Objective Acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (AECOPD) is the leading cause of hospitalization and death in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Exploring the prognostic factors of AECOPD patients will assist in optimizing treatment strategies and standardizing disease management. Methods This study retrospectively collected the clinical data of 664 patients with AECOPD admitted to the Respiratory Department of Dongzhimen Hospital of Beijing University of Chinese Medicine from January 2013 to September 2019. The 3-year survival rate and treatment of the patients were investigated. According to whether the patients died,they were divided into a non-survivors group and a survivors group,and clinical data such as basic information,comorbidities,and auxiliary examination results were compared between the two groups. Incorporating clinical experience of researchers and previous research evidence,a secondary screening of variables was conducted to ultimately determine the covariates to be included in the multifactorial Cox proportional hazards regression model,and the factors affecting the 3-year survival rate of the patients were analyzed. Results A total of 664 cases were included in this study,including 362 males and 302 females,with an average age of (77.25±6.89) years old. The 3-year all-cause mortality rate of older hospitalized patients with AECOPD was 20.48％(136 patients). Older age (HR:1.071,95％CI:1.040-1.102,P<0.001);smoking history (HR:1.788,95％CI:1.173-2.723,P=0.007);Charlson comorbidity index (HR:1.209,95％CI:1.029-1.421,P=0.022);lower arterial partial pressure of oxygen (HR:1.014,95％CI:1.006-1.022,P<0.001);higher brain natriuretic peptide(HR:1.001,95％CI:1.000-1.001,P=0.025);cor pulmonale(HR:1.896,95％CI:1.235-2.908,P=0.004);respiratory failure (HR:2.437,95％CI:1.378-4.311,P=0.003);TCM syndrome differentiation elements,including kidney (HR:1.639,95％CI:1.055-2.546,P=0.028) and fluid retention (HR:2.512,95％CI:1.653-3.816,P<0.001),were independent risk factors for 3-year all-cause death of older hospitalized patients with AECOPD. Long-term regular use of bronchiectasis (HR:0.474,95％CI:0.324-0.695,P<0.001) was an independent protective factor for 3-year all-cause death. Conclusion The 3-year survival rate of elderly hospitalized patients with AECOPD is relatively low,with the TCM syndrome elements manifested as lung-kidney qi deficiency,yang deficiency with water retention,and blood stasis obstruction. Patients with moderate to severe impairment of lung function due to COPD have an increased risk of death within 3 years. Therefore,for such patients,nourishing lung-kidney qi,resolving phlegm and water retention,activating blood circulation to remove blood stasis and dredging collaterals,combined with regular use of bronchodilators,may help improve their 3-year survival rate.