There were 80 deaths with heart disease listed as the underlying cause reported in West Virginia during the week ending Sept. 3, 2022, a 3.6% decrease from the previous week, according to The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
In the week ending Sept. 3, 2022, there were 475 deaths in the state. 16.8% of deaths were caused by heart disease, 16% were from cancer and 13.3% were from COVID-19. Additionally, 8.4% 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 Sept. 3, 2022 | Deaths in Week Ending Aug. 27, 2022 |
|---|---|---|
| Heart disease | 80 | 83 |
| Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 76 | 95 |
| COVID-19 (multiple cause) | 36 | 35 |
| COVID-19 (underlying cause) | 27 | 25 |
| Chronic lower respiratory diseases | 26 | 27 |
| Cerebrovascular diseases | 18 | 21 |
| Diabetes mellitus | 15 | 18 |
| Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | 13 | < 10 |
| Alzheimer’s disease | 10 | 14 |
| Influenza and pneumonia | < 10 | < 10 |
| Cause of Death | Deaths in Week Ending Sept. 3, 2022 | Deaths in Week Ending Aug. 27, 2022 |
|---|---|---|
| Alzheimer disease and dementia | 40 | 42 |
