In the week ending Oct. 15, there were 356 deaths in the state. 20.2% of deaths were caused by heart disease, 19.9% were from cancer and 6.5% 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 Oct. 15
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Heart disease | 72 | 20.2 |
| Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 71 | 19.9 |
| Chronic lower respiratory diseases | 19 | 5.3 |
| Diabetes mellitus | 17 | 4.8 |
| Cerebrovascular diseases | 16 | 4.5 |
| COVID-19 (multiple cause) | 13 | 3.7 |
| Influenza and pneumonia | 11 | 3.1 |
| COVID-19 (underlying cause) | 10 | 2.8 |
| Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | < 10 | < 2.8 |
| Alzheimer's disease | < 10 | < 2.8 |
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