In the week ending July 16, there were 326 deaths in the state. 19% of deaths were caused by heart disease, 20.2% were from cancer and 7.7% 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 July 16
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 66 | 20.2 |
| Heart disease | 62 | 19 |
| Chronic lower respiratory diseases | 24 | 7.4 |
| Diabetes mellitus | 19 | 5.8 |
| Cerebrovascular diseases | 15 | 4.6 |
| COVID-19 (multiple cause) | 14 | 4.3 |
| Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | 12 | 3.7 |
| COVID-19 (underlying cause) | 11 | 3.4 |
| Influenza and pneumonia | < 10 | < 3.1 |
| Alzheimer's disease | < 10 | < 3.1 |
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