Final answer:
Low oxygen saturation (A) reinforces suspicion of COPD with right ventricular disease, as COPD leads to hypoxemia that can result in right heart strain. Other symptoms such as increased resistance and surface tension in the lungs can be assessed via spirometry.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question relates to the clinical manifestations that would support a suspicion of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) with associated right ventricular disease, often referred to as cor pulmonale. Among the options provided, A) Low oxygen saturation reinforces the suspicion of COPD with right ventricular disease. In COPD, because of chronic poor airflow and the disease's progressive nature, the gas exchange capability of the lungs are compromised. This results in hypoxemia, which is a lower-than-normal level of oxygen in the blood and can be detected with tools such as a pulse oximeter. Hypoxemia can lead to further complications, including right ventricular disease due to the heart working harder to pump blood through the lungs, thus reflecting low oxygen saturation as a sign of the condition.
As COPD progresses, the other phenomena that may arise include decreased breathlessness with activity due to a decline in lung function, and increased carbon dioxide levels in the blood due to inefficient gas exchange. Insufficient ventilation can lead to increased resistance and surface tension within the lungs, further compromising pulmonary function. Spirometry is a diagnostic tool that helps in assessing the extent of airflow obstruction, helping to confirm a COPD diagnosis. However, right ventricular disease specifically would not be diagnosed with spirometry, but through other diagnostic procedures like echocardiography or ECG findings.