Burden of preserved ratio impaired spirometry (PRISm) in the urban and rural community health screening camps in India

<bold>Background and Aims:</bold> Preserved Ratio Impaired Spirometry (PRISm) is an emerging spirometry index with important clinical implications. We aimed to study the burden of PRISm & its associated factors in community health screening camps in the urban slum & rural population in India. <bold>Materials and Methods:</bold> We organized community health camps for Pollution Awareness & Wellness Assessment (PAWAN) during which we administered a lung health questionnaire that captured demographics & risk factors for lung diseases. Spirometry was performed according to ATS/ERS standards. Obstructive airway disease (OAD) was defined as FEV1/FVC<0.70 & PRISm was identified as FEV1/FVC ≥0.70 and FEV1<80% predicted. <bold>Results:</bold> Among 3402 subjects, interim analysis is presented for 1682 subjects. 588 (35%) had presence of respiratory symptoms (cough, breathlessness, wheeze) or family history of asthma or allergies. Spirometry was performed in 495 subjects, among whom the prevalence of OAD was 11% and among the remaining 442 subjects, 29% had PRISm whose detailed characteristics are as per Table 1. <fig><object-id>erj;64/suppl_68/PA3062/F1</object-id><object-id>F1</object-id><object-id>F1</object-id><graphic></graphic></fig> <bold>Conclusion:</bold> Overall, 26% of subjects screened using spirometry in the community in India had PRISm which was associated with significantly increased respiratory symptoms and small airways obstruction. PRISm should be considered as an indicator of underlying respiratory morbidity that merits more research.