Final answer:
Patients with chronic emphysema usually exhibit polycythemia, an elevated RBC count. This occurs because of the breakdown of connective tissues in the lungs, leading to low oxygen levels. The body compensates by producing more RBCs, resulting in polycythemia.
Step-by-step explanation:
Polycythemia is an elevated red blood cell (RBC) count detected in a patient's elevated hematocrit. Patients with chronic emphysema usually exhibit this disorder because of the breakdown of connective tissues in the lungs, reducing the number and elasticity of alveoli. As a result, these patients cannot fully exhale air, and it becomes trapped in the lungs, leading to low oxygen levels and increased carbon dioxide in the blood. This condition causes the body to produce more RBCs in an attempt to compensate for the low oxygen levels. However, the increased RBC count can lead to polycythemia.