Objective To make a longitudinal investigation on the changes in quantitative indicators of emphysema in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) after smoking cessation based on CT quantitative technique. Methods A retrospective collection of 130 patients with COPD in the “Digital Lung 1” Database Center (2 times of chest CT scanning at an interval of 2 years), according to the current smoking status, were divided into non-smoking group, smoking group, smoking cessation group, and smoking cessation group according to the smoking cessation time limit, were divided into short-term smoking cessation group and long-term smoking cessation group. Two lung volumes, PD15, two lung %LAA-950, and each lung lobe %LAA-950 were analyzed using the “digital lung” emphysema quantitative software. Differences in quantitative indicators of emphysema before and after smoking cessation were compared between the groups. Results In the non-smoking group, the right lower lobe %LAA-950 at the second time was higher than that at the first time (P<0.05). In the smoking group, the two lungs and the upper lobe of the lungs %LAA-950 in the second time were higher than those in the first time (P<0.05). In the smoking cessation group, the right lung mid-lobe %LAA-950 at the second time was higher than that at the first time (P<0.05). In the short-term group of smoking cessation, the two lungs and the right mid-lobe %LAA-950 at the second time were higher than those at the first time (P<0.05). The quantitative indicators of emphysema in the long-term smoking cessation group were not significantly different (P >0.05). Conclusion CT quantitative analysis can visually show the changes in quantitative indicators of emphysema in COPD patients after smoking cessation, and smoking cessation can effectively delay the progression of emphysema.