We conducted a retrospective study to determine the mortality rate and death causes of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) exacerbations at the hospital. In our cilinic 68 patients died due to COPD exacerbations between 1997-1999. The mean age was 70.1 (43-93) years, and 82.4% of the patients were male and 17.6% were female. The mortality rate due to COPD exacerbations was 6.2% and this ratio was 18.6% of the all deaths occurred in our clinic. The mean duration of hospitalization was 16.9 days (1-92). The most common comorbid disease was ischaemic heart disease. Nosocomial pneumonias caused by gram (-) bacteria and S. aereus occurred in 44.1% of the patients and it was statistically related to the duration of hospitalization (p<0.05). Respiratory failure, nosocomial pneumonia and complications of heart disease were found to be the most important factors effecting mortality.