Acanfora D, et al. - Whether relative lymphocyte count has value as a risk marker for mortality in elderly patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) was investigated in this 3-year prospective study including 218 patients (mean age 75.2±7 years) with moderate to severe COPD and without conditions impacting lymphocyte count. Findings demonstrated an association of low relative lymphocyte count with higher mortality in elderly patients with severe COPD. Even in the analysis limited to the 171 patients without congestive heart failure, a hazard ratio of 1.79 was documented for mortality risk according to lymphocyte count after adjustment for age and sex.