The Impact of Depression and Anxiety on Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Acute Exacerbations: A prospective cohort study

•A prospective cohort study with 600 COPD patients was recruited and followed in Beijing,China,and 504 people (295 men and 209 women) were thus included in the final analyses.The patients with anxiety (SAS score≥50) had a higher risk of acute exacerbation (54.1%) than those with no anxiety (SAS score < 50) (39.8%). Similarly, the patients with depression (SDS score≥53) had a higher risk of acute exacerbation (52.1%) than those with no depression (SDS score < 53) (40.4%).•COPD patients with anxiety and/or depression will increase the risk of AECOPD (adjusted OR = 1.60, 95%CI: 1.10-2.31).•Anxiety and/or depression in stable COPD patients were significantly associated with a higher risk of acute exacerbation.