In the week ending Aug. 5, there were 1,352 deaths in the state. 21% of deaths were caused by heart disease, 22.1% were from cancer and 0.9% were from COVID-19. Additionally, 10.1% 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 Aug. 5
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 299 | 22.1 |
| Heart disease | 284 | 21 |
| Cerebrovascular diseases | 64 | 4.7 |
| Chronic lower respiratory diseases | 53 | 3.9 |
| Alzheimer's disease | 45 | 3.3 |
| Diabetes mellitus | 38 | 2.8 |
| Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | 15 | 1.1 |
| Influenza and pneumonia | 13 | 1 |
| COVID-19 (multiple cause) | 12 | 0.9 |
| COVID-19 (underlying cause) | < 10 | < 0.7 |
Virginia Dementia deaths in week ending Aug. 5
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Alzheimer disease and dementia | 137 | 10.1 |
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