OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the impact of age on health related quality of life in  patients hospitalized for COPD exacerbations, given the fact that little is known on this aspect . METHODS: Analysis of data from patients with COPD exacerbation admitted in an university hospital between March and November 2008. Elderly patients were defined as having an age of at least 65 years.  Lung function, dyspnea level at hospital admission, and health-related quality of life (CCQ, WHO-Five Well -being Index-WHO-5) were among the variables analyzed comparatively in elderly (E) and younger (Y) patients respectively. RESULTS: Included in the analysis were 72 patients, 42 (58.3%) were ex smokers, and there were 45 E patients and 27 Y patients. Elderly patients had more severe dyspnea at admission, more impaired lung function during hospitalization, and required longer hospitalizations. E patients had a more impaired health-related quality of life at admission as compared to Y patients but this was not significantly altered (at admission WHO-5 score 19.28 E versus 22.81 Y, p=0.49; CCQ symptoms score 3.64 for E and 3.26 for Y, p=0.23; CCQ functional score 3.63 for E and 3.25 for Y, p=0.27, CCQ mental score 3.75 for E and 3.40 for Y, p=0.4, CCQ total score 3.66 for E and 3.30 for Y, p=0.19). Health-related quality of life at discharge was found to be slightly and non significantly  impaired in E patients as compared to Y patients.  CONCLUSIONS: This analysis demonstrated that elderly patients hospitalised for a COPD exacerbation had a more impaired health-related quality of life even if no statistically significant differences were detected.