In the week ending Aug. 20, there were 373 deaths in the state. 17.7% of deaths were caused by heart disease, 21.4% were from cancer and 12.9% 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 Aug. 20
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 80 | 21.4 |
| Heart disease | 66 | 17.7 |
| COVID-19 (multiple cause) | 29 | 7.8 |
| Chronic lower respiratory diseases | 24 | 6.4 |
| Cerebrovascular diseases | 20 | 5.4 |
| COVID-19 (underlying cause) | 19 | 5.1 |
| Diabetes mellitus | 13 | 3.5 |
| Alzheimer's disease | 12 | 3.2 |
| Influenza and pneumonia | < 10 | < 2.7 |
| Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | < 10 | < 2.7 |
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