In the week ending Aug. 20, there were 1,151 deaths in the state. 17.9% of deaths were caused by heart disease, 21.7% were from cancer and 10.1% 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. 20
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 250 | 21.7 |
| Heart disease | 206 | 17.9 |
| COVID-19 (multiple cause) | 68 | 5.9 |
| Cerebrovascular diseases | 67 | 5.8 |
| Chronic lower respiratory diseases | 55 | 4.8 |
| Alzheimer's disease | 53 | 4.6 |
| COVID-19 (underlying cause) | 48 | 4.2 |
| Diabetes mellitus | 12 | 1 |
| Influenza and pneumonia | < 10 | < 0.9 |
| Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | < 10 | < 0.9 |
Alerts Sign-up