In the week ending March 5, there were 1,009 deaths in the state. 19.6% of deaths were caused by heart disease, 20.1% were from cancer and 16.4% were from COVID-19. Additionally, 11.4% 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.
Virginia top 10 causes of death in week ending March 5
| Cause of Death | Deaths in Week Ending March 5 | Deaths in Week Ending Feb. 26 |
|---|---|---|
| Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 203 | 214 |
| Heart disease | 198 | 219 |
| COVID-19 (multiple cause) | 96 | 146 |
| COVID-19 (underlying cause) | 69 | 120 |
| Cerebrovascular diseases | 54 | 64 |
| Chronic lower respiratory diseases | 46 | 46 |
| Alzheimer's disease | 32 | 36 |
| Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | 30 | 24 |
| Diabetes mellitus | 27 | 32 |
| Influenza and pneumonia | < 10 | 19 |
Virginia Dementia deaths in week ending March 5
| Cause of Death | Deaths in Week Ending March 5 | Deaths in Week Ending Feb. 26 |
|---|---|---|
| Alzheimer disease and dementia | 115 | 134 |
Alerts Sign-up