11th January 2024

A 65-year-old man is seen in a respiratory clinic with a new shortness of breath on exertion.

A 65-year-old man is seen in a respiratory clinic with a new shortness of breath on exertion. It only started 5 months ago, around the same time when his nephew moved in with him to be closer to his workplace at a timber factory. He is a lifetime smoker; he has no new hobbies. The symptoms are present most of the time, although he does recall they got better when he went on a short trip to the seaside on his own. Which condition shares the same pathophysiological mechanism with this patient’s most likely prognosis?

Select the SINGLE most appropriate option from the list below. Select ONE option only.