There were 31 deaths with COVID-19 listed as a contributing cause reported in West Virginia during the week ending Oct. 1, 2022, a 6.9% increase over the previous week, according to The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
In the week ending Oct. 1, 2022, there were 459 deaths in the state. 21.8% of deaths were caused by heart disease, 16.8% were from cancer and 12% were from COVID-19. Additionally, 6.5% of deaths were from Alzheimer’s disease and dementia.
Studies show doctors and medical examiners may underreport Alzheimer’s disease and dementia-related conditions as the underlying cause of death on death certificates, according to the National Institute on Aging.
Once infected, older adults with dementia are likely to develop a more severe and dangerous illness. The diseases which make an older adult more vulnerable to COVID-19 are age-associated chronic conditions, according to the Bright Focus Foundation.
| Cause of Death | Deaths in Week Ending Oct. 1, 2022 | Deaths in Week Ending Sept. 24, 2022 |
|---|---|---|
| Heart disease | 100 | 92 |
| Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 77 | 79 |
| COVID-19 (multiple cause) | 31 | 29 |
| Chronic lower respiratory diseases | 26 | 26 |
| Cerebrovascular diseases | 24 | 19 |
| COVID-19 (underlying cause) | 24 | 19 |
| Diabetes mellitus | 20 | 16 |
| Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | 12 | 12 |
| Influenza and pneumonia | < 10 | < 10 |
| Alzheimer’s disease | < 10 | < 10 |
| Cause of Death | Deaths in Week Ending Oct. 1, 2022 | Deaths in Week Ending Sept. 24, 2022 |
|---|---|---|
| Alzheimer disease and dementia | 30 | 35 |
