Advanced Medical Life Support (AMLS)

Which vital sign changes would most likely occur in a patient experiencing an acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)?

1. Increased heart rate

2. Decreased temperature

3. Increased blood pressure

4. Decreased respiratory effort

The correct answer is: Increased heart rate

In a patient experiencing an acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), an increased heart rate is a common physiological response. This increase can be attributed to several factors. During an exacerbation, the body faces heightened stress due to inadequate oxygen levels and increased carbon dioxide retention. As the body struggles to meet oxygen demands, the sympathetic nervous system is activated, leading to an elevation in heart rate as a compensatory mechanism. This compensatory tachycardia aims to enhance cardiac output and improve oxygen delivery to vital organs despite the underlying respiratory compromise. Other vital signs typically do not reflect the same changes during an acute exacerbation. For instance, temperature usually remains unchanged unless there’s an associated infection. Blood pressure may vary but is not as consistently elevated as heart rate. Furthermore, respiratory effort typically increases, not decreases, as patients work harder to breathe amidst worsening airflow obstruction. Therefore, increased heart rate is the most reliable vital sign change observed in these patients during an acute exacerbation event.