For patients with AECOPD, age, atrial fibrillation, NT-pro BNP ≥300 pg/ml, and blood pH <7.3 were independent risk factors for ICU admission, while advanced age, underlying malignancy, NT-pro BNP ≥1800 pg/ml, and pneumonia on CT scan increased the risk of in-hospital mortality. Here, NPPB is linked to atrial fibrillation.