ObjectiveTo investigate the risk factors associated with failure of weaning from invasive mechanical ventilation in gerontal patients with acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (AECOPD). MethodsA retrospective study was conducted on 76 patients aged 65 years and older with AECOPD who received invasive mechanical ventilation and met the weaning criteria from July 2012 to June 2014. The subjects who passed the spontaneously breathing trial (SBT) and did not need mechanical ventilation within 48 h were enrolled into a weaning success group. The subjects who did not pass the SBT or needed mechanical ventilation again within 48 h were enrolled into a weaning failure group. The risk factors associated with failure of weaning were studied by univariate and multivariate Logistic regression analysis. ResultsThere were 53 subjects in the weaning success group and 23 in the weaning failure group. The incidences of sepsis, multiple organ dysfunction syndrome (MODS), fungal infection, hypoproteinemia, duration for mechanical ventilation > 14 d, the prevalences of aeropleura, cardiac failure, diabetes, coronary heart disease and hepatic insufficiency were higher in the weaning failure group than those in the weaning success group (P < 0.05). Logistic analysis revealed that MODS (OR=8.070), duration for mechanical ventilation > 14 d (OR=17.760), cardiac failure (OR=4.597) and diabetes (OR=13.937) were risk factors of weaning failure (P < 0.05). ConclusionMODS, duration for mechanical ventilation > 14 d, cardiac failure and diabetes were associated with the failure of weaning from invasive mechanical ventilation in gerontal patients with AECOPD.