In the week ending March 19, 2022, there were 1,031 deaths in the state. 17.8% of deaths were caused by heart disease, 18.9% were from cancer and 8.9% 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 March 19, 2022
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 195 | 18.9 |
| Heart disease | 184 | 17.8 |
| Cerebrovascular diseases | 59 | 5.7 |
| COVID-19 (multiple cause) | 51 | 4.9 |
| Alzheimer's disease | 47 | 4.6 |
| Chronic lower respiratory diseases | 47 | 4.6 |
| COVID-19 (underlying cause) | 41 | 4 |
| Diabetes mellitus | 26 | 2.5 |
| Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | 19 | 1.8 |
| Influenza and pneumonia | < 10 | < 1 |
Alerts Sign-up