Akkelies E. Dijkstra, Joanna Smolonska, Maarten van den Berge, Ciska Wijmenga, Pieter Zanen, Marjan A. Luinge, Mathieu Platteel, Jan-Willem Lammers, Magnus Dahlback, Kerrie Tosh, Pieter S. Hiemstra, Peter J. Sterk, Avi Spira, Jorgen Vestbo, Borge G. Nordestgaard, Marianne Benn, Sune F. Nielsen, Morten Dahl, W. Monique Verschuren, H. Susan J. Picavet, Henriette A. Smit, Michael Owsijewitsch, Hans U. Kauczor, Harry J. de Koning, Eva Nizankowska-Mogilnicka, Filip Mejza, Pawel Nastalek, Cleo C. van Diemen, Michael H. Cho, Edwin K. Silverman, James D. Crapo, Terri H. Beaty, David A. Lomas, Per Bakke, Amund Gulsvik, Yohan Bossé, M. A. Obeidat, Daan W. Loth, Lies Lahousse, Fernando Rivadeneira, Andre G. Uitterlinden, Andre Hofman, Bruno H. Stricker, Guy G. Brusselle, Cornelia M. van Duijn, Uilke Brouwer, Gerard H. Koppelman, Judith M. Vonk, Martijn C. Nawijn, Harry J. M. Groen, Wim Timens, H. Marike Boezen, Dirkje S. Postma

Chronic mucus hypersecretion (CMH) is associated with an increased frequency of respiratory infections, excess lung function decline, and increased hospitalisation and mortality rates in the general population. It is associated with smoking, but it is unknown why only a minority of smokers develops CMH. A plausible explanation for this phenomenon is a predisposing genetic constitution. Therefore, we performed a genome wide association (GWA) study of CMH in Caucasian populations.