There were 96 deaths from diseases of the heart reported in West Virginia in the week ending July 15, making up 20.4% of total deaths by all causes in West Virginia, according to The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
In the week ending July 15, there were 471 deaths in the state. 20.4% of deaths were caused by heart disease and 17% were from cancer Additionally, 9.8% 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 | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Heart disease | 96 | 20.4 |
| Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 80 | 17 |
| Chronic lower respiratory diseases | 26 | 5.5 |
| Cerebrovascular diseases | 21 | 4.5 |
| Diabetes mellitus | 20 | 4.2 |
| Alzheimer’s disease | 11 | 2.3 |
| Influenza and pneumonia | < 10 | < 2.1 |
| Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | < 10 | < 2.1 |
| COVID-19 (underlying cause) | 0 | 0 |
| COVID-19 (multiple cause) | 0 | 0 |
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Alzheimer disease and dementia | 46 | 9.8 |
