Why would hemoglobin and hematocrit be low in a copd patients?

Anemia in COPD: This scholarly article explains: http://cdn.Intechopen.Com/pdfs/30558/intechanemia_in_chronic_obstructive_pulmonary_disease.Pdf. It appears that the best explanation is that inflammatory cytokines play a significant role in some patients and produce a picture of anemia of chronic disease (acd). That explains why some people are anemic instead of a compensatory rbc production.

Another cause?: Although anemia of chronic disease is possible, i would look for other causes including nutritional deficiencies, gastrointestinal blood loss, or low thyroid level that may be complicating copd.

Another illness: Anemia of chronic disease does not occur as a result of common emphysema / chronic bronchitis (the usual copd). If such a person is also anemia, another cause should be sought. Anything from being an vegetarian who doesn't know how to supplement to losing blood from an undiagnosed stomach cancer can be the cause. COPD is hard enough with an undiagnosed cause of anemia. Thanks for writing.