There were 89 deaths with heart disease listed as the underlying cause reported in West Virginia during the week ending Sept. 17, 2022, a 3.5% increase over the previous week, according to The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
In the week ending Sept. 17, 2022, there were 443 deaths in the state. 20.1% of deaths were caused by heart disease, 18.7% were from cancer and 11.7% were from COVID-19. Additionally, 8.1% 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. 17, 2022 | Deaths in Week Ending Sept. 10, 2022 |
|---|---|---|
| Heart disease | 89 | 86 |
| Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 83 | 75 |
| COVID-19 (multiple cause) | 31 | 26 |
| Chronic lower respiratory diseases | 28 | 29 |
| COVID-19 (underlying cause) | 21 | 17 |
| Diabetes mellitus | 18 | 21 |
| Alzheimer’s disease | 14 | < 10 |
| Cerebrovascular diseases | 14 | 18 |
| Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | 13 | 10 |
| Influenza and pneumonia | 10 | < 10 |
| Cause of Death | Deaths in Week Ending Sept. 17, 2022 | Deaths in Week Ending Sept. 10, 2022 |
|---|---|---|
| Alzheimer disease and dementia | 36 | 35 |
