In the week ending Sept. 3, there were 963 deaths in the state. 20.4% of deaths were caused by heart disease, 23.2% were from cancer and 10.1% were from COVID-19.
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 Sept. 3
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 223 | 23.2 |
| Heart disease | 196 | 20.4 |
| COVID-19 (multiple cause) | 60 | 6.2 |
| Cerebrovascular diseases | 58 | 6 |
| COVID-19 (underlying cause) | 37 | 3.8 |
| Chronic lower respiratory diseases | 35 | 3.6 |
| Alzheimer's disease | 34 | 3.5 |
| Diabetes mellitus | 29 | 3 |
| Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | 15 | 1.6 |
| Influenza and pneumonia | < 10 | < 1 |
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