In the week ending Aug. 27, there were 352 deaths in the state. 17.6% of deaths were caused by heart disease, 20.7% were from cancer and 12.5% 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. 27
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 73 | 20.7 |
| Heart disease | 62 | 17.6 |
| COVID-19 (multiple cause) | 26 | 7.4 |
| Chronic lower respiratory diseases | 23 | 6.5 |
| COVID-19 (underlying cause) | 18 | 5.1 |
| Cerebrovascular diseases | 16 | 4.5 |
| Diabetes mellitus | 12 | 3.4 |
| Alzheimer's disease | 12 | 3.4 |
| Influenza and pneumonia | < 10 | < 2.8 |
| Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | < 10 | < 2.8 |
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