In the week ending Oct. 8, there were 1,066 deaths in the state. 21.9% of deaths were caused by heart disease, 20.5% were from cancer and 6.9% 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 Oct. 8
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Heart disease | 233 | 21.9 |
| Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 219 | 20.5 |
| Cerebrovascular diseases | 66 | 6.2 |
| Chronic lower respiratory diseases | 54 | 5.1 |
| COVID-19 (multiple cause) | 43 | 4 |
| Diabetes mellitus | 38 | 3.6 |
| Alzheimer's disease | 37 | 3.5 |
| COVID-19 (underlying cause) | 31 | 2.9 |
| Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | 20 | 1.9 |
| Influenza and pneumonia | 14 | 1.3 |
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