Objective To compare the clinical characteristics and treatment of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in the year of 2018, 2019, 2020, and 2021. Methods A cross-sectional multicenter study was conducted on patients with stable COPD from 13 hospitals of China south area in year of 2018, 2019, 2020 and 2021. The demographic data, pulmonary function, COPD assessment test (CAT), exacerbation in the past year and treatment regimens were collected. Results The CAT scores of the COPD patients in the year of 2018, 2019, 2020 and 2021 were (16.5±6.7), (14.5±6.7), (14.1±6.2) and (13.4±6.6), respectively. The CAT scores decreased year by year (P<0.05). The forced expiratory volume in one second percentage predicted value (FEV1%pred) of the COPD patients in the year of 2018, 2019, 2020 and 2021 were (52.8±21.4)%, (51.3±19.2)%, (53.4±21.5)% and (56.6±21.7)%, respectively. Compared with year of 2018, the patients in 2019, 2020 and 2021 had higher FEV1%pred. Compared with year of 2019 and 2020, the patients 2021 had higher FEV1%pred (P<0.05). The median of exacerbation in the past year of the COPD patients in the year of 2018, 2019, 2020 and 2021 were 1, 1, 0 and 0, respectively. Compared with year of 2018 and 2019, the median of exacerbation in the past year in 2020 and 2021 were lower (P<0.05). The proportion of double [long-acting β2-agonist (LABA)+long-acting muscarinic antagonist (LAMA)] and triple inhaled [LAMA+LABA+ inhaled corticosteroid (ICS)] drugs were 0%, 0.7%, 3.5% and 17.0%, as well as 47.9%, 41.2%, 27.8% and 26.0%. Compared with year of 2018 and 2019, the proportion of double inhaled drugs in 2020 and 2021 was higher, while triple inhaled drugs was lower (P<0.05). In addition, the proportion of influenza vaccine/pneumonia vaccine was 0%, 0.1%, 3.5% and 4.3%, respectively. Compared with year of 2018 and 2019, the proportion of influenza vaccine/pneumonia vaccine in year of 2020 and 2021 was higher (P<0.05). Conclusions Symptoms and exacerbation burden of patients with COPD tend to be less in China in recent years and the time of patients visited hospital tends to move forward. Furthermore, the proportion of patients with double inhaled drugs (LABA+LAMA) increased, while triple inhaled (LAMA+LABA+ICS) decreased. In addition, the proportion of patients vaccinated with influenza/pneumonia is increased but the overall proportion is still low.