In the week ending Aug. 13, there were 1,132 deaths in the state. 17.8% of deaths were caused by heart disease, 21.1% were from cancer and 9.8% 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 Aug. 13
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 239 | 21.1 |
| Heart disease | 201 | 17.8 |
| COVID-19 (multiple cause) | 65 | 5.7 |
| Cerebrovascular diseases | 64 | 5.7 |
| Chronic lower respiratory diseases | 54 | 4.8 |
| Alzheimer's disease | 52 | 4.6 |
| COVID-19 (underlying cause) | 46 | 4.1 |
| Diabetes mellitus | 23 | 2 |
| Influenza and pneumonia | 13 | 1.1 |
| Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | 13 | 1.1 |
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