In the week ending Sept. 3, there were 383 deaths in the state. 17.5% of deaths were caused by heart disease, 18.8% were from cancer and 14.4% 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 Sept. 3
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 72 | 18.8 |
| Heart disease | 67 | 17.5 |
| COVID-19 (multiple cause) | 31 | 8.1 |
| Chronic lower respiratory diseases | 25 | 6.5 |
| COVID-19 (underlying cause) | 24 | 6.3 |
| Cerebrovascular diseases | 16 | 4.2 |
| Diabetes mellitus | 12 | 3.1 |
| Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | 11 | 2.9 |
| Alzheimer's disease | 10 | 2.6 |
| Influenza and pneumonia | < 10 | < 2.6 |
Alerts Sign-up