That is true in the Northern Hemisphere according to a recent large study by Bob Wise and his colleagues in the International Journal of COPD 2018:13 605–616. The latest discussion of exacerbations in COPD360social was about 4 years ago, so the following are my personal opinions on the topic. What is your experience?
An exacerbation is a sudden worsening of respiratory symptoms: more shortness of breath and more coughing with phlegm. If you have been measuring your peak flow or oxygen saturation, these often fall below your usual range. If you are infected by a respiratory virus, such as a cold or the flu, the exacerbation will often last for several weeks, and may cause a secondary bacterial infection.
If you seek medical attention for a "moderate" exacerbation, daily antibiotic and prednisone pills will usually be prescribed for 5-10 days. Note that the retail price of these is less than the cost of a single inhaler. If you have lapsed taking a previously-prescribed asthma or COPD controller inhaler (with 1, 2, or 3 drugs), you will be reminded to resume taking it every day.
If your FEV1 is below 1.5 liters, you are likely to have more than 2 exacerbations per year, which is considered "frequent". Taking a daily COPD controller inhaler is likely to reduce the severity of these exacerbations. Only annual flu shots and avoiding grandchildren (especially during cold winter holidays) will reduce their frequency.