In the week ending May 15, there were 32 deaths in the state. Less than 31.3 percent of deaths were caused by heart disease, less than 31.3 percent were from cancer and 171.9 percent were from COVID-19.
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.
West Virginia top 10 causes of death in week ending May 15
| Cause of Death | Cause of Death | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| COVID-19 (multiple cause) | 29 | 90.6 |
| COVID-19 (underlying cause) | 26 | 81.3 |
| Influenza and pneumonia | < 10 | < 31.3 |
| Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | < 10 | < 31.3 |
| Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | < 10 | < 31.3 |
| Heart disease | < 10 | < 31.3 |
| Diabetes mellitus | 0 | 0 |
| Alzheimer's disease | 0 | 0 |
| Chronic lower respiratory diseases | 0 | 0 |
| Cerebrovascular diseases | 0 | 0 |
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