Aims : There is intense research in new modalities of pharmacologic and non-pharmacologic treatment of exacerbations of COPD. This session will review the current concepts of diagnosis and etiology of exacerbations and will provide an overview of the new clinical trials of treatments for patients with exacerbations of COPD. In addition, the impact of non-pharmacological strategies, such as smoking cessation, non-invasive mechanical ventilation and others on the evolution of exacerbations will be updated.