FRAX

Question 1

What is the FRAX scoring used for?

Answer 1

It gives the 10 year probability of a fracture - hip fracture and of a major osteoporotic fracture (clinical spine, forearm, hip or shoulder fracture)

Question 2

What are the components of FRAX scoring?

Answer 2

1. Current age
2. Gender
3. A prior osteoporotic fracture
4. Femoral neck BMD
5. Low body mass index
6. Oral glucocorticoids for more than 3 months at a dose of prednisolone of 5mg daily or more (or equivalent doses of other glucocorticoids)
7. Current smoking
8. Parental history of hip fracture
9. Alcohol intake (3 or more units a day)
10. Rheumatoid arthritis
11. Secondary osteoporosis e.g. - type I diabetes, untreated long-standing hyperthyroidism, hypogonadism or premature menopause (<45 years), chronic malnutrition, or malabsorption etc.

Question 3

What age bracket is FRAX valid for?

Answer 3

40-90

Question 4

At the different risks for FRAX what do you do for the patient?

Answer 4

1. Low risk
   Reassure and give lifestyle advice
2. Intermediate risk
   Offer BMD test
3. High risk
   Offer bone protection treatment