There were 85 deaths with heart disease listed as the underlying cause reported in West Virginia during the week ending July 9, 2022, a 3.4% decrease from the previous week, according to The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
In the week ending July 9, 2022, there were 449 deaths in the state. 18.9% of deaths were caused by heart disease, 21.4% were from cancer and 7.1% were from COVID-19. Additionally, 10.5% 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 July 9, 2022 | Deaths in Week Ending July 2, 2022 |
|---|---|---|
| Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 96 | 96 |
| Heart disease | 85 | 88 |
| Chronic lower respiratory diseases | 28 | 29 |
| Cerebrovascular diseases | 20 | 12 |
| COVID-19 (multiple cause) | 20 | 18 |
| Diabetes mellitus | 16 | 16 |
| Alzheimer’s disease | 12 | 15 |
| COVID-19 (underlying cause) | 12 | 14 |
| Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | 11 | 12 |
| Influenza and pneumonia | < 10 | < 10 |
| Cause of Death | Deaths in Week Ending July 9, 2022 | Deaths in Week Ending July 2, 2022 |
|---|---|---|
| Alzheimer disease and dementia | 47 | 33 |
