In the week ending Dec. 10, 2022, there were 534 deaths in the state. 24% of deaths were caused by heart disease, 16.5% were from cancer and 7.7% were from COVID-19. Additionally, 7.5% 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. 10, 2022
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Heart disease | 128 | 24 |
| Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 88 | 16.5 |
| Chronic lower respiratory diseases | 50 | 9.4 |
| COVID-19 (multiple cause) | 24 | 4.5 |
| Diabetes mellitus | 21 | 3.9 |
| Cerebrovascular diseases | 21 | 3.9 |
| COVID-19 (underlying cause) | 17 | 3.2 |
| Alzheimer's disease | 13 | 2.4 |
| Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | 11 | 2.1 |
| Influenza and pneumonia | 10 | 1.9 |
West Virginia Dementia deaths in week ending Dec. 10, 2022
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Alzheimer disease and dementia | 40 | 7.5 |
Alerts Sign-up