There were 88 deaths with heart disease listed as the underlying cause reported in West Virginia during the week ending July 2, 2022, a 15.8% increase over the previous week, according to The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
In the week ending July 2, 2022, there were 457 deaths in the state. 19.3% of deaths were caused by heart disease, 21% were from cancer and 7% were from COVID-19. Additionally, 7.2% 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 2, 2022 | Deaths in Week Ending June 25, 2022 |
|---|---|---|
| Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 96 | 88 |
| Heart disease | 88 | 76 |
| Chronic lower respiratory diseases | 29 | 29 |
| COVID-19 (multiple cause) | 18 | 18 |
| Diabetes mellitus | 16 | 14 |
| Alzheimer’s disease | 15 | < 10 |
| COVID-19 (underlying cause) | 14 | 10 |
| Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | 12 | 10 |
| Cerebrovascular diseases | 12 | 23 |
| Influenza and pneumonia | < 10 | < 10 |
| Cause of Death | Deaths in Week Ending July 2, 2022 | Deaths in Week Ending June 25, 2022 |
|---|---|---|
| Alzheimer disease and dementia | 33 | 40 |
