Pang H, et al. - Researchers sought to determine the prevalence, risk factors, and clinical characteristics of patients with acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (AECOPD) and venous thromboembolism (VTE) in 16 hospitals in China in this prospective, observational study. VTE was detected in 6.8% of patients, including 24 who had pulmonary embolism (PE), 64 who had deep vein thrombosis (DVT), and 10 who had combined PE and DVT. Patients with VTE vs those without more commonly had a history of VTE and lower extremity varicose vein, and presence of longer immobility (≥ 3 days), lower limbs problems of swelling, pain and walking difficulties, diuretics use, fever, syncope, higher D-dimer and lower hemoglobin. For those hospitalized patients who have AECOPD with risk factors, conventional prophylactic anticoagulant therapy may be of benefit.