In the week ending Sept. 24, there were 1,103 deaths in the state. 18.8% of deaths were caused by heart disease, 22.8% were from cancer and 9.5% 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. 24
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 252 | 22.8 |
| Heart disease | 207 | 18.8 |
| Cerebrovascular diseases | 66 | 6 |
| COVID-19 (multiple cause) | 64 | 5.8 |
| Alzheimer's disease | 55 | 5 |
| COVID-19 (underlying cause) | 41 | 3.7 |
| Chronic lower respiratory diseases | 39 | 3.5 |
| Diabetes mellitus | 16 | 1.5 |
| Influenza and pneumonia | 13 | 1.2 |
| Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | 12 | 1.1 |
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