In the week ending Nov. 12, there were 523 deaths in the state. 20.5% of deaths were caused by heart disease, 18.5% were from cancer and 7.5% were from COVID-19. Additionally, 8.2% of deaths were from Alzheimer's disease and dementia.
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 Nov. 12
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Heart disease | 107 | 20.5 |
| Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 97 | 18.5 |
| Chronic lower respiratory diseases | 26 | 5 |
| Cerebrovascular diseases | 23 | 4.4 |
| COVID-19 (multiple cause) | 23 | 4.4 |
| Diabetes mellitus | 17 | 3.3 |
| COVID-19 (underlying cause) | 16 | 3.1 |
| Influenza and pneumonia | 13 | 2.5 |
| Alzheimer's disease | 13 | 2.5 |
| Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | 10 | 1.9 |
West Virginia Dementia deaths in week ending Nov. 12
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Alzheimer disease and dementia | 43 | 8.2 |
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