In the week ending July 15, there were 471 deaths in the state. 20.4% of deaths were caused by heart disease and 17% were from cancer Additionally, 9.8% 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 July 15
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Heart disease | 96 | 20.4 |
| Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 80 | 17 |
| Chronic lower respiratory diseases | 26 | 5.5 |
| Cerebrovascular diseases | 21 | 4.5 |
| Diabetes mellitus | 20 | 4.2 |
| Alzheimer's disease | 11 | 2.3 |
| Influenza and pneumonia | < 10 | < 2.1 |
| Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | < 10 | < 2.1 |
| COVID-19 (underlying cause) | 0 | 0 |
| COVID-19 (multiple cause) | 0 | 0 |
West Virginia Dementia deaths in week ending July 15
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Alzheimer disease and dementia | 46 | 9.8 |
Alerts Sign-up