Low FVC/TLC in Preserved Ratio Impaired Spirometry (PRISm) is associated with features of and progression to obstructive lung disease

One quarter of individuals with Preserved Ratio Impaired Spirometry (PRISm) will develop airflow obstruction, but there are no established methods to identify these individuals. We examined the utility of FVC/TLC in identifying features of obstructive lung disease. The ratio of post-bronchodilator FVC and TLC(CT) from chest CT (FVC/TLC(CT)) among current and former smokers with PRISm (FEV(1)/FVC ≥ 0.7 and FEV1 < 80%) in COPDGene was used to stratify subjects into quartiles: very high, high, low, and very low. We examined the associations between FVC/TLC(CT) quartiles and (1) baseline characteristics, (2) respiratory exacerbations, (3) progression to COPD at 5 years, and (4) all-cause mortality. Among participants with PRISm at baseline (n = 1,131), the very low FVC/TLC(CT) quartile was associated with increased gas trapping and emphysema, and higher rates of progression to COPD at 5 years (36% versus 17%; p < 0.001) relative to the very high quartile. The very low FVC/TLC(CT) quartile was associated with increased total (IRR = 1.65; 95% CI [1.07–2.54]) and severe (IRR = 2.24; 95% CI [1.29–3.89]) respiratory exacerbations. Mortality was lower in the very high FVC/TLC(CT) quartile relative to the other quartiles combined. Reduced FVC/TLC(CT) ratio in PRISm is associated with increased symptoms, radiographic emphysema and gas trapping, exacerbations, and progression to COPD.