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The mystery of the pandemic's ‘happy hypoxia’

278 Citations2020
Jennifer Couzin-Frankel

Among the many surprises of the new coronavirus is one that seems to defy basic biology: infected patients with extraordinarily low blood oxygen levels, or hypoxia, scrolling through their phones, chatting with doctors, and generally describing themselves as comfortable.

Abstract

<jats:p>Doctors debate how to treat patients with low blood oxygen but without trouble breathing.</jats:p>

The mystery of the pandemic's ‘happy hypoxia’