There were 33 deaths with COVID-19 listed as a contributing cause reported in West Virginia during the week ending Aug. 20, 2022, a 32% increase over the previous week, according to The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
In the week ending Aug. 20, 2022, there were 430 deaths in the state. 16.7% of deaths were caused by heart disease, 20.7% were from cancer and 13% were from COVID-19. Additionally, 7.4% 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 Aug. 20, 2022 | Deaths in Week Ending Aug. 13, 2022 |
|---|---|---|
| Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 89 | 96 |
| Heart disease | 72 | 74 |
| COVID-19 (multiple cause) | 33 | 25 |
| Chronic lower respiratory diseases | 26 | 26 |
| COVID-19 (underlying cause) | 23 | 16 |
| Cerebrovascular diseases | 22 | 26 |
| Diabetes mellitus | 16 | 11 |
| Alzheimer’s disease | 14 | 16 |
| Influenza and pneumonia | 10 | < 10 |
| Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | 10 | 11 |
| Cause of Death | Deaths in Week Ending Aug. 20, 2022 | Deaths in Week Ending Aug. 13, 2022 |
|---|---|---|
| Alzheimer disease and dementia | 32 | 44 |
