Natural History of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Exacerbations in a General Practice–based Population with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

A large proportion of patients with COPD do not exacerbate over a maximum 10 years of follow-up. AECOPD frequency in a single year predicts long-term AECOPD rate. Increasing frequency and severity of AECOPDs is associated with risk of death and highlights the importance of preventing AECOPDs.