In the week ending July 22, there were 2,205 deaths in the state. 20.7% of deaths were caused by heart disease, 21.3% were from cancer and 0.7% were from COVID-19. Additionally, 7.9% 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 22
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 470 | 21.3 |
| Heart disease | 456 | 20.7 |
| Cerebrovascular diseases | 131 | 5.9 |
| Chronic lower respiratory diseases | 111 | 5 |
| Alzheimer's disease | 87 | 3.9 |
| Diabetes mellitus | 60 | 2.7 |
| Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | 41 | 1.9 |
| Influenza and pneumonia | 20 | 0.9 |
| COVID-19 (multiple cause) | 15 | 0.7 |
| COVID-19 (underlying cause) | < 10 | < 0.5 |
Ohio Dementia deaths in week ending July 22
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Alzheimer disease and dementia | 174 | 7.9 |
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