In the week ending September 4, there were 112 deaths in the state. less than 8.9 percent were from cancer and 194.6 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 September 4
Cause of Death | Number of Deaths 2021-09-04 | Number of Deaths 2021-08-28 |
---|---|---|
COVID-19 (multiple cause) | 112 | 76 |
COVID-19 (underlying cause) | 106 | 69 |
Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | < 10 | 0 |
Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | < 10 | 0 |
Influenza and pneumonia | 0 | 0 |
Diabetes mellitus | 0 | < 10 |
Alzheimer's disease | 0 | 0 |
Chronic lower respiratory diseases | 0 | < 10 |
Cerebrovascular diseases | 0 | 0 |
Heart disease | 0 | < 10 |