Nondyspnogenic respiratory failure in patients with COVID-19: another example of myth-building in this new disease?

Abstract

TO THE EDITOR: We have read with great interest the paper authored by , "Nondyspnogenic acute hypoxemic respiratory failure in COVID-19 pneumonia." Although the notion of blunted respiratory sensation in patients with COVID-19 has already been disputed (2), the authors developed in their viewpoint a physiological case to support the view that SARS-COV virus can decrease the capacity of infected patients to "feel" the effects of their viral pneumonia, leading to "nondyspnogenic hypoxemic respiratory failure." Based on the evidence and the rationale presented in the paper, we fear that this article may contribute to more "myth-building" around this newly discovered dis-