In the week ending Dec. 17, there were 2,379 deaths in the state. 20.5% of deaths were caused by heart disease, 17.9% were from cancer and 9.5% were from COVID-19. Additionally, 11.7% of deaths were from Alzheimer's disease and dementia.
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 Dec. 17
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Heart disease | 488 | 20.5 |
| Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 426 | 17.9 |
| COVID-19 (multiple cause) | 137 | 5.8 |
| Chronic lower respiratory diseases | 132 | 5.5 |
| Cerebrovascular diseases | 122 | 5.1 |
| Alzheimer's disease | 114 | 4.8 |
| COVID-19 (underlying cause) | 89 | 3.7 |
| Influenza and pneumonia | 64 | 2.7 |
| Diabetes mellitus | 50 | 2.1 |
| Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | 40 | 1.7 |
Ohio Dementia deaths in week ending Dec. 17
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Alzheimer disease and dementia | 279 | 11.7 |
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