In the week ending June 18, there were 371 deaths in the state. 22.4% of deaths were caused by heart disease, 22.9% were from cancer and 7.8% 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 June 18
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 85 | 22.9 |
| Heart disease | 83 | 22.4 |
| Chronic lower respiratory diseases | 29 | 7.8 |
| Cerebrovascular diseases | 17 | 4.6 |
| COVID-19 (multiple cause) | 17 | 4.6 |
| Diabetes mellitus | 12 | 3.2 |
| COVID-19 (underlying cause) | 12 | 3.2 |
| Alzheimer's disease | 11 | 3 |
| Influenza and pneumonia | 10 | 2.7 |
| Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | < 10 | < 2.7 |
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