OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to define the main characteristics of patients presenting with an AECB in general practice. METHODS: This cross-sectional study was performed by a representative sample of 120 General Practitioners (GPs), selected by random pooling from a national database. Each GP was required to recruit prospectively and consequently a maximum of eight patients aged 35 years or more with AECB defined by at least one of the Anthonisen criteria. Socio-demographics, medical history of chronic bronchitis and the current episode management were collected. The Saint-George Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ) was self-administered by the patients. RESULTS: One hundred one GPs recruited 417 patients from November 2000 to April 2001. The patients were on average 65 years old, with 67% over 60 years. Twenty nine percent (121) of patients were smokers and 163 (40%) were former smokers. They had been suffering from chronic bronchitis for an average of 13 years. During the last 12 months, 351 patients (85%) experienced four or less episodes of AECB (mean = 3 episodes), and 52 patients (12%) were hospitalized due to the disease. FEV1 was available for 186 patients. The value was greater than 80% for 14% of the patients, between 35% and 80% for 76%, and less than 35% for 10%. Most of the patients were classified as Anthonisen 1 (289 patients, 69%), and 104 patients (25%) as Anthonisen 2. The total mean score from the SGRQ was 54 (n = 275) (symptoms 62, activity 63, impact 46) and consistently increased with age, chronic bronchitis duration, FEV1, number of AECB episodes and Anthonisen severity. CONCLUSION: This observational study confirmed the importance of risk factors and the severity of the AECB patients managed by GPs, with significant burden of disease.