What mental status change is typical for a client with pneumonia experiencing hypoxia?

In patients with pneumonia who are experiencing hypoxia, irritability is a common mental status change due to the brain's sensitivity to decreased oxygen levels. Hypoxia can lead to cognitive disturbances, and irritability often reflects an agitation state as the body and mind respond to reduced oxygen availability. This agitation can manifest as heightened emotional responses, including frustration or anger, as individuals struggle to overcome their discomfort.

Other options such as coma or apathy may indicate more severe stages of hypoxia or other serious conditions, whereas depression may not directly correlate with the acute phase of pneumonia-related hypoxia. In the context of hypoxia, irritability is often observed as a direct response to the physiological stress that accompanies insufficient oxygenation.