Question

The nurse is reviewing the laboratory reports of a patient with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The nurse would expect to find increased levels of which component in the patient's laboratory report?

1) Hematocrit
2) Troponin T
3) Troponin I
4) Cortisol

Answer 1

In a patient with COPD, a nurse would expect to see increased levels of hematocrit as the body compensates for low oxygen levels in the blood.

Step-by-step explanation:

When considering a patient with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), a nurse would expect to find increased levels of hematocrit in the patient's laboratory report. This is because the body may produce more red blood cells in an attempt to compensate for chronic low oxygen levels in the blood, a condition known as hypoxemia that is often associated with COPD. Troponin T and Troponin I are markers of myocardial injury and would not typically be elevated due to COPD. Cortisol levels can be impacted by stress or illness but are not directly related to the primary pathophysiology of COPD.