In the week ending July 15, there were 2,178 deaths in the state. 21.3% of deaths were caused by heart disease, 19.8% were from cancer and 0.6% were from COVID-19. Additionally, 8.9% 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 July 15
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Heart disease | 464 | 21.3 |
| Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 432 | 19.8 |
| Cerebrovascular diseases | 150 | 6.9 |
| Chronic lower respiratory diseases | 92 | 4.2 |
| Alzheimer's disease | 78 | 3.6 |
| Diabetes mellitus | 67 | 3.1 |
| Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | 38 | 1.7 |
| Influenza and pneumonia | 34 | 1.6 |
| COVID-19 (multiple cause) | 13 | 0.6 |
| COVID-19 (underlying cause) | < 10 | < 0.5 |
Ohio Dementia deaths in week ending July 15
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Alzheimer disease and dementia | 193 | 8.9 |
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