Which tool is commonly used to estimate 10-year fracture risk in clinical practice?

Which tool is commonly used to estimate 10-year fracture risk in clinical practice?

• A. DEXA
• B. FRAX (Fracture Risk Assessment Tool)
• C. BMI
• D. ALP

Answer: (B)

Estimating 10-year fracture risk is best done with a tool that combines multiple risk factors into a single probability. FRAX does exactly that: it calculates the 10-year probability of a hip fracture and of a major osteoporotic fracture by integrating age, sex, weight, height, prior fracture, parental hip fracture, smoking, glucocorticoid use, rheumatoid arthritis, secondary osteoporosis, alcohol, and, optionally, femoral neck bone mineral density. This makes the risk estimate patient-specific and clinically actionable, guiding decisions about treatment initiation or further testing. DEXA measures bone mineral density and is essential for diagnosing osteoporosis, but it does not by itself provide a 10-year fracture risk estimate. BMI and ALP are not formal tools to estimate fracture risk in routine practice; BMI is a rough risk indicator and ALP is a bone turnover marker with limited predictive value for fracture risk in everyday care. FRAX remains the standard because it translates multiple risk factors into a concrete risk percentage, which clinicians can use to tailor management.

Estimating 10-year fracture risk is best done with a tool that combines multiple risk factors into a single probability. FRAX does exactly that: it calculates the 10-year probability of a hip fracture and of a major osteoporotic fracture by integrating age, sex, weight, height, prior fracture, parental hip fracture, smoking, glucocorticoid use, rheumatoid arthritis, secondary osteoporosis, alcohol, and, optionally, femoral neck bone mineral density. This makes the risk estimate patient-specific and clinically actionable, guiding decisions about treatment initiation or further testing.

DEXA measures bone mineral density and is essential for diagnosing osteoporosis, but it does not by itself provide a 10-year fracture risk estimate. BMI and ALP are not formal tools to estimate fracture risk in routine practice; BMI is a rough risk indicator and ALP is a bone turnover marker with limited predictive value for fracture risk in everyday care. FRAX remains the standard because it translates multiple risk factors into a concrete risk percentage, which clinicians can use to tailor management.