In the week ending May 29, there were 26 deaths in the state. Less than 38.5 percent of deaths were caused by heart disease and 176.9 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 29
| Cause of Death | Cause of Death | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| COVID-19 (multiple cause) | 24 | 92.3 |
| COVID-19 (underlying cause) | 22 | 84.6 |
| Heart disease | < 10 | < 38.5 |
| Influenza and pneumonia | 0 | 0 |
| Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | 0 | 0 |
| Diabetes mellitus | 0 | 0 |
| Alzheimer's disease | 0 | 0 |
| Chronic lower respiratory diseases | 0 | 0 |
| Cerebrovascular diseases | 0 | 0 |
| Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 0 | 0 |
Alerts Sign-up