Epidemiology of COPD exacerbations

COPD exacerbations represent the most common acute event and the one with the greatest medium- to long-term clinical and prognostic impact, acting as a key driver of functional decline, deterioration in quality of life, and a substantial share of the morbidity, mortality, and healthcare costs attributable to the disease. This review synthesizes the most relevant epidemiological evidence on the frequency, distribution, and environmental determinants of exacerbations, with particular emphasis on longitudinal trends, seasonal patterns, and economic burden. Overall, the last decades have seen a decline in exacerbation rates within the context of clinical trials; however, analyses based on hospital registries are constrained by methodological limitations, notably reliance on International Classification of Diseases-coded case identification and a predominant focus on severe events. Temporal trajectories also vary by region: in Spain, decreases followed by subsequent rebounds have been described, with a more pronounced increase among women, while other European and non-European settings report divergent patterns. Seasonality emerges as a robust feature in temperate climates, with winter peaks and a consistent association between low temperatures (and thermal variability) and higher admission rates and exacerbation severity. Ambient air pollution (PM2.5/PM10, NO₂, SO₂, O₃) is linked to an increased risk of exacerbation, potentially with lagged effects, through biologically plausible pathways mediated by oxidative stress and inflammation. Finally, we discuss the impact of exposures arising from environmental disasters (wildfires, volcanic eruptions, and oil spills), illustrated by recent events in Spain, and integrate the economic dimension, underscoring that exacerbations account for a large proportion of the total cost of COPD.