BACKGROUND: Preserved ratio impaired spirometry (PRISm) is defined as forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV METHODS: We used data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey III and 2007-2012. Participants aged 20-79 years at baseline and who underwent spirometry were included. Normal spirometry was defined as a prebronchodilator FEV RESULTS: Overall, 24,691 participants were included, with a median follow-up time of 25.7 years. Of these, 19,969 had normal spirometry and 1,452 had PRISm. PRISm was associated with a high all-cause mortality risk (unadjusted hazard ratio [HR]=2.47, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 2.25-2.71, P<
0.001
adjusted HR=1.69, 95% CI: 1.54-1.86, P<
0.001) compared with normal spirometry. Sensitivity analyses and subgroup analyses showed a similar increased all-cause mortality risk in PRISm. CONCLUSION: Our finding revealed that PRISm was significantly associated with increased risk of all-cause mortality in the general population compared with normal spirometry. Further research is needed to explore the intervention effect of PRISm.