Donald Trump health fears as doctors pinpoint ‘gaps’ in medical report | World | News
Donald Trump’s latest White House health assessment has come under scrutiny after doctors told a US newspaper that key medical details were omitted. During the three-hour annual examination at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, it was determined that the 79-year-old President was in “excellent health.”
In a summary of the results, presidential physician Navy Capt. Sean Barbabella said Trump “demonstrated strong heart, lung, neurological and overall physical function.” The report also stated that the artificial intelligence-supported electrocardiogram estimated Trump’s heart age to be 14 years younger than his actual age. But many doctors who reviewed the findings said the document lacked the level of detail normally expected in an assessment of cardiovascular health, according to The Wall Street Journal. Figures such as calcium scores, plaque assessments and other indicators used to assess the condition of arteries and blood vessels were not disclosed, according to the newspaper.
The newspaper reported that Barbabella said Trump’s carotid ultrasound showed normal results, but no specific measurements were disclosed.
Texas vascular surgeon Dr. William Shutze said: “If I were preparing a report to send to another doctor, I would mention the carotid ultrasound a little more.
“How much plaque will there be, because almost all of us will accumulate there.”
The surgeon later questioned the overall findings, adding: “This report is too good to be true for someone his age. This appears to be a filtered narrative.”
In a statement made by the White House, it was stated that the absence of specific results should be seen as confirmation that no clinically significant abnormalities were detected.
“President Trump has publicly disclosed more detailed information about his health than any other president in history, indicating that he is in excellent health,” said White House communications director Steven Cheung.
Doctors interviewed by the Journal also highlighted Trump’s cholesterol levels; His LDL was measured as 53 mg/dL and his HDL was 70 mg/dL.
Georgia vascular surgeon Dr. Daniel Torrent said Trump had “the best cholesterol levels you’ve ever seen,” adding: “We usually can’t manage people until they’re this good.”
The report also included a PSA score of 1 ng/mL, which was stated to be within the healthy range.
The Journal also noted that the report did not address Trump’s neck rash, which appeared earlier this year, despite previous statements from the White House saying he used a protective cream for a skin condition.
It also touched on the bruising on the President’s hands, which Barbabella described as resulting from frequent handshakes and as benign effects of aspirin therapy.
Despite increasing scrutiny on the health of aging political leaders, US presidents are not legally required to release detailed medical records, the newspaper said.
