Three subjective findings from the case supporting the diagnosis of COPD include: The severe respiratory distress observed in A.C. is evidenced by increased workload, one of the cardinal characteristics associated with COPD that points to depleting lung function and
2 obstruction of airways. The second is his chronic dry cough, primarily in the morning, a characteristic of COPD patients due to chronic bronchial inflammation and increased mucus secretion. The third factor is the sizeable smoking history of 35 pack-years that accompanies COPD development because smoking is a leading cause of chronic inflammation and lung tissue damage. Identify at Least Three Objective Findings From the Case Which Support the Chosen Diagnosis. Three objective findings support the diagnosis of COPD. The first is a decreased FEV1/FVC ratio that signals obstructive lung disease when tested positively in spirometry results (MacLeod et al., 2021). Second, the chest X-ray indicated the poor inflation of lungs with a flattened diaphragm, a common feature in COPD due to air trapping and lung over-expansion. Third, the physical examination shows wheezing upon forced exhalation and extended expiratory phase, characteristic signs of airway obstruction in COPD. Management of the Disease Classify the Patient's Disease Severity. Is This Considered Stable or Unstable? According to the information provided, the patient's COPD can be considered moderate or severe. Hence, this examination is because of the massive decrease in FEV1, which is 64% predicted pre-bronchodilator and 66% post-bronchodilator value, as well as sustained dyspnea and cough signs (Bollmeier & Hartmann, 2020). According to the GOLD guidelines, moderate disease severity is determined by a 50 -79 % FEV1 of predicted, and any reading below an index value of 50% defines severe COPD (Bollmeier & Hartmann, 2020). The patient's status at the
3 current moment is considered stable since there are no signs of acute episodes or recent significant changes in symptoms
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