The FRAX (Fracture Risk Assessment Tool) is an online tool designed to predict the incidence of fractures due to osteoporosis. This tool is provided by the World Health Organization and the University of Sheffield.

FRAX quantitatively determines the likelihood of hip fractures or major fractures associated with osteoporosis in a patient for the next 10 years using clinical risk factors, bone mineral density, and country-specific data on fracture mortality and mortality. he does. Risk factors include mineral density of the femoral neck, previous fracture, history of hip fracture in parents, age, gender, body mass index, race, smoking, alcohol consumption, glucocorticoid use, rheumatoid arthritis, and secondary osteoporosis. Additional risk factors, such as repeated falls, are not considered in FRAX.

The physician records the patient's demographic information and answers to simple questions about his or her medical history regarding risk factors for fractures or secondary osteoporosis. The answers are yes or no. If no answer is given in a column, the algorithm automatically realizes that this is a negative answer.

Finally, an overall answer is given to the patient as a percentage that indicates whether the patient is likely to be prone to fractures of the hip bone or other parts of the body in the next 10 years. In this tool, body mass index or BMI is also calculated automatically.

There are significant differences between different racial groups in terms of genetic predisposition to osteoporosis. It has now been proven that eating and environmental habits may affect bone mass density or BMD. That is why the relevant algorithm is defined as standard for each country to be able to provide accurate epidemiological information. In the United States, for example, there are four different types of FRAX, one for each group (white, black, Hispanic, and Asian).

It should be noted that although this tool asks a question about bone mass density in the hip area, it does not have to be answered. The system has the ability to suggest a response even without BMD or T score. FRAX is a cheap and easy diagnostic tool in patients who do not use Dexa device. This method is less expensive than other diagnostic and therapeutic methods of osteoporosis.

FRAX was developed by the World Health Organization for postmenopausal women and men 40 to 90 years of age, and the National Osteoporosis Foundation has identified its benefits only for postmenopausal women and men over 50 years of age. This method is valid when used for untreated patients.

According to the National Osteoporosis Foundation guidelines, patients whose FRAX scores score is more than or equal to 3% for hip fractures or more or equal to 20% for large fractures due to osteoporosis should be treated to reduce the risk of fractures in the next 10 years. .

https://www.sheffield.ac.uk/FRAX/tool.aspx?lang=en