In the week ending October 9, there were 167 deaths in the state. Less than 6 percent of deaths were caused by heart disease and 192.2 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 October 9
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths 2021-10-09 | Number of Deaths 2021-10-02 |
|---|---|---|
| COVID-19 (multiple cause) | 165 | 190 |
| COVID-19 (underlying cause) | 156 | 166 |
| Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | < 10 | < 10 |
| Diabetes mellitus | < 10 | < 10 |
| Cerebrovascular diseases | < 10 | < 10 |
| Heart disease | < 10 | < 10 |
| Influenza and pneumonia | 0 | 0 |
| Alzheimer's disease | 0 | 0 |
| Chronic lower respiratory diseases | 0 | 0 |
| Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 0 | < 10 |
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