In the week ending May 14, there were 956 deaths in the state. 18.8% of deaths were caused by heart disease, 19.8% were from cancer and 4% 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.
Ohio top 10 causes of death in week ending May 14
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 189 | 19.8 |
| Heart disease | 180 | 18.8 |
| Cerebrovascular diseases | 55 | 5.8 |
| Chronic lower respiratory diseases | 47 | 4.9 |
| Alzheimer's disease | 40 | 4.2 |
| COVID-19 (multiple cause) | 24 | 2.5 |
| Diabetes mellitus | 22 | 2.3 |
| COVID-19 (underlying cause) | 14 | 1.5 |
| Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | 11 | 1.2 |
| Influenza and pneumonia | 10 | 1 |
Alerts Sign-up