In the week ending June 24, there were 1,439 deaths in the state. 20.4% of deaths were caused by heart disease, 21.3% were from cancer and less than 0.7% were from COVID-19. Additionally, 10.4% 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 June 24
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 307 | 21.3 |
| Heart disease | 294 | 20.4 |
| Cerebrovascular diseases | 82 | 5.7 |
| Chronic lower respiratory diseases | 69 | 4.8 |
| Alzheimer's disease | 43 | 3 |
| Diabetes mellitus | 37 | 2.6 |
| Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | 34 | 2.4 |
| Influenza and pneumonia | 19 | 1.3 |
| COVID-19 (underlying cause) | < 10 | < 0.7 |
| COVID-19 (multiple cause) | < 10 | < 0.7 |
Virginia Dementia deaths in week ending June 24
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Alzheimer disease and dementia | 149 | 10.4 |
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