A nurse is caring for a client who has chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and is short of breath. When reviewing the client's arterial blood gases (ABGS), which of the following conditions should the nurse anticipate the client to be experiencing?

Rationale: A. Respiratory alkalosis occurs with hyperventilation (e.g., anxiety, early asthma attack), not with COPD. B. Respiratory acidosis is common in COPD due to hypoventilation, carbon dioxide retention, and impaired gas exchange. C. Metabolic alkalosis usually results from vomiting, gastric suction, or excessive antacid use, not COPD. D. Metabolic acidosis occurs in conditions like diabetic ketoacidosis or renal failure, not primarily with COPD.