Objective To investigate the values of intervention and treatment of malnutrition in the elderly patients with acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (AECOPD). Methods A total of 62 elderly AECOPD patients combined with malnutrition or risk of malnutrition admitted in the Jinqiu Hospital of Liaoning Province from August 2015 to August 2016 were recruited in this study. According to their own willingness, they were divided into nutrition treatment group (n=31) and control group (n=31). Besides conventional anti-infection and symptomatic therapies to both groups for 8 weeks, the patients from the treatment group were given professional consultation, nutrition education and enteral nutrition support, while those of the control group only received common dietary guidance. The body mass index (BMI), triceps skin fold (TSF) thickness, mid-arm circumference (MAC), serum contents of total protein (TP), serum albumin (ALB) and hemoglobin (Hb) were measured before and after treatment. The patient’s pulmonary function was evaluated using forced expiratory volume in the fisrt second (FEV₁), forced vital capacity, and ratio of actual FEV₁ to expected FEV₁ (FEV₁A/FEV₁E). St.George’s Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ) scores were used to evaluated the patient’s life quality. The above results were compared before and after treatment and between the 2 groups. Results After 8 weeks’ treatment, BMI, TSF, MAC, TP, ALB and Hb were all increased in both groups (P<0.05), and more significantly for those of the treatment group (P<0.05). The pulmonary function indices, including FEV_l, FVC, FEV₁A/FEV₁E, were improved in the 2 groups (P<0.05), and more significantly in the treatment group (P<0.05). The SGRQ scores were decreased in the 2 groups (P<0.01), and more significantly in the treatment group (P<0.01). Conclusion Timely and reasonable intervention and treatment for malnutrition can obviously improve the nutritional status, restore respiratory function, and improve the quality of life in the elderly AECOPD patients.