In the week ending July 29, there were 1,327 deaths in the state. 19.1% of deaths were caused by heart disease, 22.9% were from cancer and 0.9% were from COVID-19. Additionally, 10.5% 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.
Virginia top 10 causes of death in week ending July 29
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 304 | 22.9 |
| Heart disease | 254 | 19.1 |
| Cerebrovascular diseases | 70 | 5.3 |
| Chronic lower respiratory diseases | 67 | 5 |
| Alzheimer's disease | 44 | 3.3 |
| Diabetes mellitus | 39 | 2.9 |
| Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | 34 | 2.6 |
| Influenza and pneumonia | 12 | 0.9 |
| COVID-19 (multiple cause) | 12 | 0.9 |
| COVID-19 (underlying cause) | < 10 | < 0.8 |
Virginia Dementia deaths in week ending July 29
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Alzheimer disease and dementia | 139 | 10.5 |
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