There are large individual differences in the life expectancy of elderly patients with emphysema. Patients with mild emphysema have the same life expectancy as the general population, and if secondary to severe pulmonary heart disease and respiratory failure, it can be life-threatening. Emphysema is a chronic lung disease, often caused by airflow obstruction due to airway inflammation, also known as obstructive emphysema. The life expectancy of elderly patients with emphysema is related to the severity of the disease. If the emphysema is mild, regular treatment with antibiotics, bronchodilators, and hormonal drugs, prevention of respiratory infections during remission, and moderate exercise to enhance resistance generally do not affect the life expectancy of the patient. If emphysema is not treated promptly and effectively, it can cause pulmonary heart disease and even respiratory failure, which will greatly shorten the life expectancy of patients, whose survival period is generally about 3-5 years, and then combined with acute infection, which can be life-threatening at any time. It is recommended that patients should quit smoking, avoid stimulation of the respiratory tract by polluted air and smoke, pay attention to warmth, prevent respiratory tract infections, and perform moderate physical exercise to enhance resistance.