Trump May Have ‘Serious Risk Factors’ For Covid-19 Complications, Health Experts Say

Topline

Health experts warn that factors including President Donald Trump’s age and weight could put him at a higher risk of contracting serious complications of Covid-19, after he announced early Friday that he had contracted the virus.

Key Facts

Crucial Quote

“The data is clear that both the president’s older age and heavier weight represent serious risk factors for COVID-19. The virus is still very new, and we are still understanding how it impacts individuals with various risk factors,” Dr. Howard K. Koh, who served as assistant secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services under President Barack Obama, said in a statement to Forbes. Koh noted that studies have shown those who are obese are 113% more likely to be hospitalized.

Key Background

The lack of transparency on Trump’s health has been a source of concern throughout his presidency, particularly in recent months as Trump’s unsteady walk down a ramp, struggle to drink a glass of water during a rally and unscheduled November 2019 visit to Walter Reed hospital have prompted public speculation about his health. A new paper in the Journal on Active Aging that came out before Trump’s Covid-19 diagnosis noted that based on the publicly available data about his health and family history, the president had a “higher than average probability” of surviving another presidential term as compared to other men his age, however—even despite his “obesity and sedentary lifestyle”—and estimated his lifespan at 88.6 years.

What To Watch For

White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows said Friday that the president is currently experiencing only “mild symptoms” of Covid-19, and would not specify what treatments he’s receiving. Dr. Ashish Jha, Dean of the Brown University School of Public Health, noted on MSNBC on Friday that while the president’s case is currently mild, it’s too soon to determine whether Trump will develop serious complications, and it will be important to monitor Trump’s health over approximately the next 5-8 days to see if his symptoms worsen. “I think we all pray that he recovers quickly but worry that he may be at risk,” Jha said earlier Friday on Good Morning America.

Further Reading

President Donald Trump has Covid-19. How serious is his risk? (CNN)

Older, overweight and male: Trump’s COVID risk factors make him vulnerable (Reuters)

Covid: What is the risk to Donald Trump’s health? (BBC)

Here’s How The 25th Amendment And Presidential Transfer Of Power Works (Forbes)

Putin, Boris Johnson, Angela Merkel Among World Leaders To Wish Trump A Speedy Recovery From Covid-19 (Forbes)

Trump, Biden Are Potential ‘Super Agers’ Whose Age Is ‘Not Relevant’ To Election, Study Finds (Forbes)

Full coverage and live updates on the Coronavirus