From all eligible participants (n=10 652) enrolled in COPDGene Phase I, those who subsequently underwent lung transplantation or lung volume reduction surgery, who had no smoking history, or who lacked longitudinal follow‐up data, were excluded. Furthermore, subjects with normal baseline spirometry (n=3801) were also excluded. The remaining study population (n=5083) was subdivided based on spirometry and GOLD spirometric classification. Each subgroup was further classified into groups with or without CVD at baseline. CVD includes coronary artery disease, congestive heart failure, stroke, transient ischemic attack, peripheral vascular disease, angina, heart attack, and history of coronary artery angioplasty or coronary artery bypass graft surgery. COPD indicates chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; COPDGene, Genetic Epidemiology of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease; CVD, cardiovascular disease; GOLD, Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease; and PRISm, preserved ratio impaired spirometry.