Joe Biden was seen gingerly walking down the steps of Air Force One last night after revealing he had Covid and had been taken off the campaign trail.
The photo of the limping president being helped into a car raises further questions about his health as pressure mounts for him to step down.
Now doctors are warning that Biden, at 81, is among those most at risk for debilitating and persistent symptoms from the virus, including brain fog, fatigue and muscle pain that makes it difficult to move. That could explain why he walked stiffer than usual last night.
They told DailyMail.com they expect Biden to make a full recovery because he is relatively slim, exercises, has natural immunity from previous infections, has been vaccinated several times and is taking the Covid drug Paxlovid.
But doctors fear it could take weeks, if not months, for the president to recover, given his advanced age, many underlying conditions and medications — an irregular heartbeat, a history of aneurysms and prescription blood thinners.
President Biden spoke this week at the 115th annual NAACP convention in Las Vegas before fleeing to Delaware to recover from COVID
Doctors told DailyMail.com that President Biden’s condition is worrying, although the chance of him dying is small.
But the risk of dying from COVID increases with age. CDC data shows that, as of October 2022, the death rate among adults 85 and older was more than 2.8 times higher than the rate for adults 75 to 84, and seven times higher than the rate for adults 65 to 74.
As many as 90 percent of COVID-19 deaths in 2023 were among seniors aged 65 and older.
But the overall risk of death has fallen as the pandemic has progressed, with just 259 deaths in the week ending June 29, for example.
For comparison: in the summer of 2021 there were still 3,000 to 15,000.
Still, Dr. Ernst Von Schwarz, a leading cardiologist at the University of California, Los Angeles, said Biden’s doctors should advise him to “take it easy,” which could lead to him withdrawing from the fight.
Dr Von Schwarz told DailyMail.com that Covid is still a nuisance for the elderly. ‘It can knock you out. And it doesn’t just affect the lungs,’ he said.
“It’s a systemic inflammatory response as a result of the viral infection. That means it can affect the heart, brain and blood vessels.”
This can lead to slower thinking, difficulty walking normally and difficulty concentrating, which Biden was already struggling with before he was diagnosed.
‘I would of course say to every patient, especially those at high risk, to take it easy.
“You need a lot of rest, a lot of hydration. And President Biden is on certain medications, which he needs to address or even stop, because he’s clearly on Paxlovid right now.”
Biden has several health indicators that work to his advantagealthough. He is relatively slim with a body mass index (BMI) of 24.1, which is within the normal weight range. He also exercises about five days a week.
Biden also receives the best medical care in the world, including the drug Paxlovid, and has received several booster shots over the years.
It is also possible that his previous Covid infection caused the body to produce antibodies that recognize and combat the virus when the weather strikes.
Researchers in Oregon reported that most adults still have antibodies more than 12 months after being infected with COVID-19, and that previous infection provides strong, lasting protection against reinfection.
According to Dr. William Schaffner, a leading infectious disease expert at Vanderbilt University Medical Center, all of these factors are moving Covid “from wild to mild.”
Dr. Schaffner added that any lingering COVID symptoms, such as brain fog and difficulty concentrating, “would be at the forefront of any health care provider caring for people 65 and older.
Those are things that the health care provider would advise on how long the patient needs to recover and things like that.’
And when asked if he’s concerned about the impact of the infection on Biden’s cognition, whether he’ll experience brain fog and mobility issues, Dr. von Schwarz replied, “All of the above.”
He added: ‘He has underlying cardiovascular disease and he is of advanced age. So those are two major risk factors. And generally speaking, age is the single most important determinant of poorer outcomes for any disease.
“It’s the same as when you have a bad flu, you don’t feel well, you feel lethargic and weak. People, like you said, have brain fog. Will it affect your ability to work? Absolutely. Will you be able to stand for hours or stay up all night? Absolutely not.”
There are few issues more important to voters than Biden’s advanced age and whether he has the mental strength and physical fitness to prevent a second Trump term. Many are now urging him to consider dropping out of the race.
He traveled to his home in Delaware to isolate and recover, while still carrying out his daily duties as president.
But a week’s absence may not be enough to get Biden back in campaign shape, doctors say.
Dr Von Schwarz said: ‘The problem is that if people don’t fully recover from that and their immune system is somewhat weakened, that opens the door to later infections or complications.
“So if I have someone his age and his overall physical condition, with his underlying cardiovascular issues, I’ll tell them, take it easy, you can’t travel, you can’t work, you really need to get lots of rest. Make sure you’re getting the right nutrition. And just take it easy for at least 10, 14 days, if not longer.”
Biden is in the second most vulnerable age group for severe COVID infection. But Mr. Biden has been vaccinated multiple times with boosters and has started taking the antiviral drug Paxlovid. The infection is not expected to be fatal
Mr. Biden’s doctor has said the president does not have a fever. His symptoms include a dry nose, a nonproductive cough and “general malaise.” His vital signs and respiratory rate are both normal.
Biden has said the only reason he would withdraw from the race would be a formal recommendation from his doctor. Dr. Schaffner said the decision would be based on a number of issues, but likely would not be a result of his COVID infection.
According to Biden’s doctors, he has no fever and his respiratory rate is normal, as are his vital signs.
According to the statement, he suffered from a runny nose, a dry cough and a “general malaise.”
So far, his medical team has not released any information to the public indicating that he has become incapacitated and should reconsider his plans to remain in the White House.
But according to Dr. Von Schwarz, this diagnosis “could be a blessing, offering them a way out if they want to get out of that race.”
It is possible that the president’s doctors do not want to get involved in politics, particularly on this burning topic, and do not want to make a formal recommendation based on his Covid diagnosis.
But it is also possible that they would give him milder recommendations given his job, such as telling him that he could safely attend a campaign rally after a week of isolation.
Dr. Von Schwarz said, “The main goal should of course be to take care of your patients, not to set a political agenda. In other words, I think his personal physicians should tell him to take it easy.”
‘I mean, you’re not young, you have underlying conditions. And any infection can be a problem, not just in the short term.
“I think the main goal should be for any health care provider who is taking care of the president to give him the advice he would give anyone in a similar situation: really take it easy, take it easy, and get some distance.”
