Pathophysiology of COPD and Gas Exchange

A 65-year-old male patient presents to the emergency department with severe shortness of breath, a productive cough, and chest tightness. Upon assessment, it is noted that the patient has a history of smoking and has been diagnosed with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). In the context of COPD, one major pathophysiological change includes the destruction of the alveoli, leading to a decreased surface area for gas exchange.

In this scenario, the nurse should be aware that the primary gas exchange function can be significantly impaired due to the condition. The fill-in-the-blank statement is as follows: In patients with COPD, the decreased surface area of alveoli primarily contributes to an elevation in arterial blood levels of ________.