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Updated: Nov 24, 2025

A Model to Simulate Clinically Relevant Hypoxia in Humans
Published on: December 22, 2016
Silent hypoxaemia in COVID-19 patients
Tatum S Simonson1, Tracy L Baker2, Robert B Banzett3
1Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care, & Sleep Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of California, San Diego, CA, USA.
Abstract:
The clinical presentation of COVID-19 due to infection with SARS-CoV-2 is highly variable with the majority of patients having mild symptoms while others develop severe respiratory failure. The reason for this variability is unclear but is in critical need of investigation. Some COVID-19 patients have been labelled with 'happy hypoxia', in which patient complaints of dyspnoea and observable signs of respiratory distress are reported to be absent. Based on ongoing debate, we highlight key respiratory and neurological components that could underlie variation in the presentation of silent hypoxaemia and define priorities for subsequent investigation.
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