In the week ending May 21, there were 930 deaths in the state. 18% of deaths were caused by heart disease, 20.2% were from cancer and 2.9% 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.
Ohio top 10 causes of death in week ending May 21
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 188 | 20.2 |
| Heart disease | 167 | 18 |
| Cerebrovascular diseases | 56 | 6 |
| Chronic lower respiratory diseases | 54 | 5.8 |
| Alzheimer's disease | 43 | 4.6 |
| Diabetes mellitus | 16 | 1.7 |
| COVID-19 (multiple cause) | 16 | 1.7 |
| Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | 15 | 1.6 |
| COVID-19 (underlying cause) | 11 | 1.2 |
| Influenza and pneumonia | < 10 | < 1.1 |
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