A 62-year-old male, former smoker with a 40-pack-year history, presents to the clinic with worsening shortness of breath over the past year. He reports a chronic productive cough, fatigue, and occasional wheezing. He finds it difficult to walk up a flight of stairs without stopping to catch his breath. The patient also mentions that he gets frequent respiratory infections, and the
last one led to a three-day hospital stay. Physical examination reveals a barrel-shaped chest, use of accessory muscles for breathing, and decreased breath sounds with wheezes upon auscultation. A chest X-ray shows hyperinflation of the lungs, and spirometry confirms a decreased FEV1/FVC ratio, consistent with COPD.
In 1 -2 pages, answer the questions below in detail. You must use current evidence-based
resources to support your answers. Follow APA guidelines. Follow the grading rubric.
1. What factors in the patient’s history and lifestyle could have contributed to the
development of COPD? What about occupational hazards – what would be some
components that could cause COPD in the work environment?
2. How does smoking lead to the changes seen in the lungs, such as hyperinflation and the
barrel-shaped chest?
3. What physiological mechanisms are responsible for the patient’s chronic productive
cough?
4. How does alveolar destruction impact gas exchange and contribute to the patient’s
symptoms of fatigue and breathlessness?
5. Pathophysiological – why might this patient be more susceptible to frequent respiratory infections
Grading Rubric
This criterion is linked to a Learning Outcome Develop a 1- to 2-page case study analysis, examining the patient symptoms presented in the case study. Be sure to address the following: Explain pathophysiologic mechanisms responsible for the patient symptoms and why patient is susceptible to more frequent infections.
- The response accurately and thoroughly describes the patient symptoms. … The response includes accurate, clear, and detailed reasons, with explanation for the pathophysiologic mechanisms responsible for the patient symptoms and why patient is susceptible to more frequent infections. Content is supported by evidence and/or research, as appropriate, to support the explanation.
Explain the pulmonary pathophysiologic processes of how smoking can lead to the changes seen in the lungs.
- The response includes an accurate, complete, detailed, and specific explanation of the pulmonary pathophysiologic processes of how smoking can lead to the changes seen in the lungs.
This criterion is linked to a Learning OutcomeExplain any racial/ethnic variables that may impact physiological functioning. — Explain factors in the patient’s history and lifestyle that could have contributed to the development of COPD.
- The response includes an accurate, complete, detailed, and specific explanation of racial/ethnic variables that may impact physiological functioning. Explain factors in the patient’s history and lifestyle that could have contributed to the development of COPD. Content is supported by evidence and/or research, as appropriate, to support the explanation.
