In the week ending Oct. 8, there were 1,206 deaths in the state. 15.8% of deaths were caused by heart disease, 23.1% were from cancer and 7.3% 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. 8
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 278 | 23.1 |
| Heart disease | 191 | 15.8 |
| Cerebrovascular diseases | 75 | 6.2 |
| Chronic lower respiratory diseases | 58 | 4.8 |
| Alzheimer's disease | 54 | 4.5 |
| COVID-19 (multiple cause) | 54 | 4.5 |
| COVID-19 (underlying cause) | 34 | 2.8 |
| Diabetes mellitus | 30 | 2.5 |
| Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | 21 | 1.7 |
| Influenza and pneumonia | 17 | 1.4 |
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