In the week ending Sept. 3, there were 1,027 deaths in the state. 16.8% of deaths were caused by heart disease, 24.4% were from cancer and 8.2% 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 Sept. 3
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 251 | 24.4 |
| Heart disease | 173 | 16.8 |
| Cerebrovascular diseases | 55 | 5.4 |
| Alzheimer's disease | 54 | 5.3 |
| Chronic lower respiratory diseases | 54 | 5.3 |
| COVID-19 (multiple cause) | 53 | 5.2 |
| COVID-19 (underlying cause) | 31 | 3 |
| Diabetes mellitus | 30 | 2.9 |
| Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | 13 | 1.3 |
| Influenza and pneumonia | < 10 | < 1 |
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