Trump's age, gender put him at risk for severe coronavirus - TribLIVE

CLEVELAND — President Donald Trump is at higher risk of developing a severe case of covid-19 because of his age and gender.

Trump, 74, was diagnosed with covid-19 hours after it became publicly known that Hope Hicks, a top Trump aide who traveled with him on Air Force One and Marine One this week, tested positive Thursday morning, according to news reports.

Trump announced early Friday that his wife, Melania, also contracted the illness.

Older adults and people of any age who have serious underlying medical conditions, such as heart or lung disease or diabetes, seem to be at higher risk for developing more serious complications from covid-19 illness, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Covid-19 patients with severe illness may require hospitalization, intensive care, or a ventilator to help them breathe.

First Lady Melania Trump, 50, is considered lower-risk than the president. Men have accounted for 54% of covid-19 deaths in the United States between Feb. 1 and Sept. 26, according to the CDC. Among the women who have died, nearly 84% were older than 65.

It isn’t known when or where the president and first lady were exposed to the coronavirus. On average, it takes five to six days from when someone is infected with the virus for symptoms to show. However, it can take up to 14 days, according to the World Health Organization.

Trump has attended large campaign rallies in the past few weeks, where mask-wearing and social distancing — two measures that health officials have stressed help slow the spread of the disease — were largely not enforced. He was in Dauphin County on Saturday for a campaign stop at Harrisburg International Airport.

A news report said the president was not showing symptoms. Some people who test positive for covid-19 remain asymptomatic.

Common covid-19 symptoms can include fever, dry cough and fatigue. Less common are aches and pains, sore throat, diarrhea, conjunctivitis, loss of taste or smell, skin rash or discoloration of fingers or toes.

Serious symptoms include difficulty breathing or shortness of breath and chest pain.

The U.S. has reported about 7.3 million covid-19 cases, with roughly 208,000 deaths, the most of any country.

Here is a look at some of the factors that may put Trump at risk for severe illness, along with possible treatments.

Covid-19 and older adults

As people age, their risk for severe illness from covid-19 increases, according to the CDC.

Eight out of 10 covid-19 deaths reported in U.S. have been in adults 65 years and older, according to the CDC. However, the greatest risk for severe illness from covid-19 is among those aged 85 or older.

People who test positive for covid-19 between ages 65 and 74 are five times more likely to be hospitalized and 90 times more likely to die, compared with patients between 18 and 29, the CDC said.

Older adults are at higher risk for severe covid-19 because their heart and lungs are weaker, Dr. Elie Saade, medical director of infection control and a geriatric specialist at University Hospitals, said in August. An older person’s immune system also may not be able to fight off disease as well as a young person would.

Obesity and covid-19

The president’s body-mass index, a measure based on height and weight that doctors use to measure body fat, may put him at risk for severe covid-19.

His annual physical exam in June reported his height and weight at 6-foot-3 and 244 pounds, giving him a BMI of 30.5. A number of 30 or higher is considered obese, so Trump is slightly over that line.

The president also doesn’t drink or smoke. These factors should improve his general well-being.

Treatment options

His doctors may choose to treat him with the anti-inflammatory dexamethasone and the antiviral remdesivir.

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