There were 33 deaths with COVID-19 listed as a contributing cause reported in West Virginia during the week ending July 30, 2022, a 32% increase over the previous week, according to The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
In the week ending July 30, 2022, there were 447 deaths in the state. 18.1% of deaths were caused by heart disease, 21.9% were from cancer and 12.5% were from COVID-19. Additionally, 7.8% 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 July 30, 2022 | Deaths in Week Ending July 23, 2022 |
|---|---|---|
| Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 98 | 89 |
| Heart disease | 81 | 83 |
| COVID-19 (multiple cause) | 33 | 25 |
| Chronic lower respiratory diseases | 25 | 32 |
| COVID-19 (underlying cause) | 23 | 13 |
| Cerebrovascular diseases | 16 | 20 |
| Diabetes mellitus | 15 | 18 |
| Alzheimer’s disease | 13 | 14 |
| Influenza and pneumonia | < 10 | < 10 |
| Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | < 10 | 10 |
| Cause of Death | Deaths in Week Ending July 30, 2022 | Deaths in Week Ending July 23, 2022 |
|---|---|---|
| Alzheimer disease and dementia | 35 | 39 |
