In the week ending Oct. 1, there were 1,051 deaths in the state. 16.1% of deaths were caused by heart disease, 24.2% were from cancer and 7% 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 Oct. 1
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 254 | 24.2 |
| Heart disease | 169 | 16.1 |
| Cerebrovascular diseases | 68 | 6.5 |
| Chronic lower respiratory diseases | 52 | 4.9 |
| Alzheimer's disease | 45 | 4.3 |
| COVID-19 (multiple cause) | 45 | 4.3 |
| Diabetes mellitus | 31 | 2.9 |
| COVID-19 (underlying cause) | 29 | 2.8 |
| Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | 28 | 2.7 |
| Influenza and pneumonia | 11 | 1 |
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