A nurse is assessing a client who has COPD. Which of the following findings should the nurse expect?

A. This is incorrect because weight gain is not expected in clients who have COPD, as they often have difficulty eating and digesting food due to dyspnea and fatigue. B. This is incorrect because a decrease in anteroposterior diameter of the chest is not typical of COPD, as the condition causes hyperinflation and air trapping in the lungs, leading to an increase in chest size and a barrel-shaped appearance. C. This is incorrect because HCO3 24 mEq/L is within the normal range for blood bicarbonate levels, which are 22 to 26 mEq/L. Clients who have COPD often have chronic respiratory acidosis, which stimulates the kidneys to retain bicarbonate and increase its levels in the blood to compensate for the low pH. D. This is correct because pH 7.31 indicates acidosis, which is common in clients who have COPD due to impaired gas exchange and accumulation of carbon dioxide in the blood.