A large study led by University of Bristol researchers to investigate whether Preserved Ratio Impaired Spirometry (PRISm) is an early predictor of co-morbidities has found it is strongly associated with symptoms, comorbidities and an increased risk of death. Using data from 351,874 UK Biobank participants, comprising 189,247 women and 162,627 men, the team found 38,639 (11%) of 351,874 participants were identified as having PRISm and associated with obesity, smoking and patient reported doctor-diagnosed asthma. The study also found that PRISm is strongly associated with symptoms and comorbidity, including increased risk of breathlessness and cardiovascular disease. The research, published in The Lancet Respiratory Medicine, evaluated results of lung spirometry tests in one of the largest cohorts of UK adults and followed them up over 12 years.