OBJECTIVE:To investigate the effects and safety of 2 kinds of glucocorticoid administration regimens including 5 d and 15 d on clinical efficacy,pulmonary function,quality of life in elderly patients with acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease(AECOPD). METHODS:A total of 160 elderly patients with AECOPD selected from Haikou Forth People's Hos-pital during May 2013-Dec. 2015 were divided into group A and B according to lottery method,with 80 cases in each group. Both groups received symptomatic treatment as eliminating phlegm and relieving asthma,controlling infection,etc. Based on it,group A was given Methylprednisolone sodium succinate for injection,40 mg/d for 15 d;group B was given Methylprednisolone sodium succinate for injection,40 mg/d for 5 d. Clinical efficacies were compared between 2 groups as well as the levels of pulmonary ven-tilation function indexes,blood gas analysis indexes,Spitzer life quality index scale (QLI) scores before and after treatment. The occurrence of ADR was also compared between 2 groups. RESULTS:Total response rate of group A was 92.50%,and that of group B was 90.00%,without statistical significance(P>0.05). Before treatment,there was no statistical significance in the levels of pulmonary ventilation function indexes,blood gas analysis indexes,QLI scores between 2 groups (P>0.05). After treatment, FVC,FEV1,FEV1% and PaO2 of 2 groups were significantly higher than before treatment,while PaCO2 was significantly lower than before treatment,with statistical significance (P<0.05);there was no statistical significance between 2 groups (P>0.05). QLI scores of 2 groups were significantly higher than before treatment,and the group B was significantly higher than the group A, with statistical significance (P<0.05). The incidence of ADR in group B (6.25%) was significantly lower than group A (22.50%),with statistical significance(P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS:Glucocorticoid administration regimen including 5 d and 15 d in the treatment of elderly patients with AECOPD possess the same effects in improving lung function;glucocorticoid administra-tion regimen for 5 d application is superior in effectively improving the quality of life of patients,reducing the risk of ADR,and has clinical value.