Objective: To evaluate the impact of a patient-centered nursing model on respiratory function and clinical pulmonary infection score (CPIS) in athletes with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Methods: This study involved 116 athletes diagnosed with COPD who were treated at our institution from June 2021 to June 2023. Participants were randomly assigned to a control group (n=58), which received standard nursing care, or an observation group (n=58), which received patient-centered nursing care. Key metrics assessed included lung function (FVC, FEV1, FEV1%, PaO2, PaCO2), mastery of health education, compliance, mental health status (using SAS and SDS scales), infection rates, exercise endurance (6-minute walk test, 6MWT), and quality of life (St. George’s Respiratory Questionnaire, SGRQ). Results: Post-intervention, improvements were noted in FVC, FEV1, FEV1%, and PaO2, with a reduction in PaCO2 across both groups. However, athletes in the observation group showed greater improvements in these parameters than those in the control group (P<0.05). Furthermore, the observation group demonstrated higher mastery and compliance with health education, lower stress and depression scores, and a significantly reduced CPIS score compared to the control group. Infection rates were 3.45% in the observation group versus 15.52 percent in the control group (P<0.05). The observation group also exhibited superior exercise endurance and quality of life as measured by 6MWT and SGRQ (P<0.05). Conclusions: Implementing a patient-centered nursing model in athletes with COPD significantly enhances lung function, knowledge and compliance regarding health education, and psychological well-being. It also reduces infection rates and improves both exercise endurance and overall quality of life. This model of care may serve as an effective approach to managing COPD in athletic populations, highlighting the need for tailored healthcare strategies that address the specific challenges faced by athletes with chronic respiratory conditions.