Fracture Risk Assessment (FRAX)
Fracture risk assessment (FRAX) is a tool recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO) to predict someone’s risk of fractures caused by osteoporosis. It considers different health risk factors and bone density measurements (BMD) to estimate the probability of experiencing a hip fracture or a major osteoporosis-related fracture over the next 10 years.
The FRAX tool helps healthcare professionals evaluate a person's risk of bone fractures due to osteoporosis. The tool looks at things such as:
- Age
- Gender
- Height
- Body mass
- Previous fractures
- Family history of hip fractures
- Smoking
- Use of certain medications like steroids
- Rheumatoid arthritis
- Secondary osteoporosis
- Excessive alcohol consumption
To perform FRAX, healthcare professionals enter details about the patient’s health risk factors and bone density measurements into an online tool. The tool then calculates the probability of hip fracture and major osteoporosis-related fracture based on this information. A higher FRAX score means there is a greater chance of having a fracture in the next 10 years. This information can help guide treatment decisions and ways to lower the risk of fractures.
It's important to note that FRAX has certain limitations and is not meant for people who have already been diagnosed with osteoporosis, had fractures from weak bones, or have received effective treatment for osteoporosis.
Remember, it's important to consult with a healthcare professional for personalized advice on assessing fracture risk and the best ways to manage it.