During admission, a female patient who has smoked a pack daily for 20 years and works at a chemical plant is at greatest risk for which outcome?

• A. Decline in muscle mass
• B. Nutritional deficiencies
• C. Depression and social isolation
• D. Occupational hazard shortening life expectancy

Answer: (D)

Long-term heavy smoking plus exposure to workplace chemicals greatly increases the risk of fatal diseases such as lung cancer, COPD, and cardiovascular disease. These conditions can shorten life expectancy more than the other listed concerns. While muscle loss, nutritional deficiencies, or depression can occur with aging or illness, they are not as directly tied to these occupational and lifestyle risks and do not predict life expectancy as strongly in this scenario.