Is chronic bronchitis life-threatening?

If it gets to an advanced stage, chronic bronchitis can lead to a life-threatening illness. When the bronchial tubes and lungs become weak enough, it becomes more likely that you will experience respiratory failure or develop lung cancer or a heart or lung disease. You also have a heightened risk for pneumonia. About 1 percent of people with a chronic obstructive pulmonary disease like chronic bronchitis die from their condition every year.