So, does he actually die from it?

Yes

No, they live with it! But they must be under constant treatment.

Ekaterina But if left untreated, it can be fatal, just like many other serious illnesses.

But my mom has been living with him for 16 years, thank God. She's not planning on dying anytime soon.

My uncle passed away. He had a high mortality rate because many people continue to smoke.

COPD isn't a fatal disease, but if left untreated, it can progress to bronchial asthma, which has a higher mortality rate.

Mama♡ocharovatelnoy dochki♡ COPD won't turn into asthma, so don't spread nonsense. With asthma, the prognosis is favorable with proper treatment, whereas COPD is a progressive disease. They have different mechanisms of onset and different risk factors. However, it can happen that a person has both asthma and COPD simultaneously, rather than one transforming into the other.

If left untreated or treated carelessly, people will certainly die. You need to find the right treatment and avoid triggers. If it progresses, see a doctor immediately. With adequate treatment, people live to a ripe old age.

Dad has a hobby, he feels more or less on supportive therapy. But the doctor said that if a severe attack happens, people don't live long after it. This is not asthma, it has a more optimistic prognosis. I've had asthma since childhood and I feel much better than Dad 🙏

My sister's husband passed away from COPD. He also had a lot of other chronic illnesses and refused any treatment, ignoring all prescriptions.
If you follow a competent doctor's advice, you can live successfully.