Objective To investigate smoking and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease（COPD）in the working staff and their family members aged 65 and above（hereinafter referred to as "the elderly"）of North University of China.Methods With a cluster sampling method

812 elderly people were selected to do a self-designed questionnaire to investigate their general information

smoking and respiratory symptoms

and 204 elderly people with chronic respiratory symptoms were tested their pulmonary function and the data were statistically analyzed.Results Among all the people surveyed

COPD rate of the elderly male was 12.1%（52/430）

that of the elderly female was 3.1%（12/382）

and their difference was statistically significant（χ

2

=22.33

P=0.000）.the incidence of COPD in the 65-year-old group was 5.3%（19/356）

the incidence of COPD in the 75-year-old group was 8.2%（31/380）

the incidence of COPD in the 85-year-old group was 18.4%（14/76）.The incidence of COPD increased with aging and the differences of the incidence of COPD in different age groups were statistically significant（χ

2

=14.842

P=0.001）.The smoking rate of the elderly male was 88.6%（381/430）

that of the elderly female was 1.3%（5/382）

and the difference was statistically significant（χ

2

=618.13

P=0.000）.Conclusion The incidence of COPD in elderly people of North University of China is high and the previous diagnosis rate is low

so the university should gradually expand pulmonary function tests to achieve early detection

early diagnosis and early treatment of COPD

and also should actively carry out health education to help more smokers to quit and effectively protect the health of the elderly.