Q. A 49-year-old male presents to your office with a primary complaint of chronic cough. He reports “coughing for the last 5 years” and states the cough has become more persistent recently. The cough produces mucoid sputum that occasionally becomes purulent. He has a 30-year history of smoking two packs of cigarettes per day and reports he quit smoking last year. He denies any fevers, recent travel, or occupational exposure. On physical examination, he is afebrile, in no acute distress, though he wheezes while he talks. His blood pressure is 155/80 mmHg, his pulse is 92 beats per minute with regular rhythm, and his pulse oximetry shows an oxygen saturation level of 92%. He weighs 265 pounds and has a body mass index of 30. On chest auscultation, adventitious breath sounds are heard in all lobes. A chest x-ray performed today shows significant bronchial wall thickening with increased markings at both lung bases. Which of the following is true regarding this patient?