In the week ending Dec. 3, there were 495 deaths in the state. 18.8% of deaths were caused by heart disease, 16.8% were from cancer and 3.2% were from COVID-19. Additionally, 7.9% 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 Dec. 3
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Heart disease | 93 | 18.8 |
| Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 83 | 16.8 |
| Chronic lower respiratory diseases | 39 | 7.9 |
| Diabetes mellitus | 26 | 5.3 |
| Cerebrovascular diseases | 25 | 5.1 |
| Influenza and pneumonia | 19 | 3.8 |
| COVID-19 (multiple cause) | 16 | 3.2 |
| Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | 11 | 2.2 |
| Alzheimer's disease | 11 | 2.2 |
| COVID-19 (underlying cause) | < 10 | < 2 |
West Virginia Dementia deaths in week ending Dec. 3
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Alzheimer disease and dementia | 39 | 7.9 |
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