FRAX Report Issued to Mark World Osteoporosis Day

In recognition of World Osteoporosis Day, the InternationalOsteoporosis Foundation in Switzerland has issued a report on the Fracture Risk Assessment Tool (FRAX).

The foundation reported that about 75 million people in Europe, the United States, and Japan are affected by osteoporosis, or “porous bone.”

Additionally, according to the National Osteoporosis Foundation, Osteoporosis, 10 million Americans are estimated to have the disease and another 34 million in the United States have low bone mass, which places them at increased risk for osteoporosis. Eighty percent of those affected by osteoporosis are women, according to the foundation.

FRAX, a free online tool that assesses the 10-year risk of osteoporosis fracture in men and women, uses several clinical risk factors rather than bone mass density alone to calculate an individual’s 10-year fracture probability. Measurement of bone mass density requires DXA (dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry) technology that is not available in many areas of the world, and even in many areas of developed nations.

Currently, FRAX is available in six languages and for 18countries.

National foundation President John Kanis said that the international organization “hopes to bring understanding of FRAX to a broad audience of health professionals so that more people at risk of debilitating fractures are identified and treated before these fractures occur.”

International foundation CEO Patrice McKenney called for individuals and governments around the globe to join the fight against osteoporosis. “Osteoporosis is a common but devastating disease which we cannot afford to ignore. Immediate measuresmust be taken to reduce the burden of osteoporotic fractures through prevention, early recognition of fracture risk, and appropriate proven treatment for those in need,” she said.

To see the entire report, visit http://www.iofbonehealth.org/publications/frax.html, and go tohttp://www.shef.ac.uk/FRAX/ for the FRAX tool.