There were 95 deaths with heart disease listed as the underlying cause reported in West Virginia during the week ending June 18, 2022, a 33.8% increase over the previous week, according to The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
In the week ending June 18, 2022, there were 433 deaths in the state. 21.9% of deaths were caused by heart disease, 21.7% were from cancer and 9% 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 June 18, 2022 | Deaths in Week Ending June 11, 2022 |
|---|---|---|
| Heart disease | 95 | 71 |
| Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 94 | 90 |
| Chronic lower respiratory diseases | 34 | 27 |
| COVID-19 (multiple cause) | 23 | 19 |
| Cerebrovascular diseases | 19 | 21 |
| Diabetes mellitus | 16 | 14 |
| COVID-19 (underlying cause) | 16 | 13 |
| Influenza and pneumonia | 12 | < 10 |
| Alzheimer’s disease | 11 | 10 |
| Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | < 10 | < 10 |
| Cause of Death | Deaths in Week Ending June 18, 2022 | Deaths in Week Ending June 11, 2022 |
|---|---|---|
| Alzheimer disease and dementia | 35 | 37 |
