Within the Rotterdam Study, a population-based cohort study, we followed 1053 COPD patients until the first COPD exacerbation or end of follow-up and extracted rs1042713 (16Arg > Gly) and rs1042714 (27Gln > Glu) in ADRB2. Exposure to inhaled β2-agonists was categorized into current, past, or non-use on the index date (date of COPD exacerbation for cases and on the same day of follow-up for controls). Here, ADRB2 is linked to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.