In the week ending Sept. 10, there were 362 deaths in the state. 21.3% of deaths were caused by heart disease, 17.7% were from cancer and 9.7% 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 Sept. 10
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Heart disease | 77 | 21.3 |
| Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 64 | 17.7 |
| Chronic lower respiratory diseases | 24 | 6.6 |
| COVID-19 (multiple cause) | 22 | 6.1 |
| Cerebrovascular diseases | 17 | 4.7 |
| Diabetes mellitus | 16 | 4.4 |
| COVID-19 (underlying cause) | 13 | 3.6 |
| Influenza and pneumonia | < 10 | < 2.8 |
| Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | < 10 | < 2.8 |
| Alzheimer's disease | < 10 | < 2.8 |
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