The Use of FRAX in Identifying Women Less Than 65 Years Needing Bone Mineral Density Testing

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to determine if the United States Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) screening guideline for osteoporosis identifies women under the age of 65 with osteoporosis needing bone mineral density (BMD) testing. If the Fracture Risk Assessment Tool (FRAX) tool fails to identify women under the age of 65 with undiagnosed osteoporosis, then diagnosis and treatment are delayed, potentially leading to increased fractures and morbidity. Another aim of this study is to characterize women under the age of 65 with osteoporosis that FRAX fails to identify and provide descriptive data on our study population. A retrospective chart review was completed between 2012 and 2018. We extracted data for 113 women ≤ 65-years with osteoporosis confirmed by BMD or fractures. Major osteoporotic fracture (MOF) risk calculation without BMD by FRAX of 9.3% or greater (high risk group) was found in 51 (45.1%) of patients. Osteoporosis by T-score < 2.5 was evident in 102 (90%) of patients. Previous osteoporotic fractures were noted in 29 (25.7%) of patients. The average age of women in the high-risk group was 58 years and 55 years in the low-risk group. The sensitivity of FRAX for identifying women with a T-score <−2.5 was 40%. The sensitivity of FRAX for identifying women with a history of fracture was 32%. The sensitivity of FRAX for identifying women with a T-score <−2.5 or identifying women with a history of fracture was 32%. These results demonstrate that the FRAX tool alone (USPSTF recommendation) fails to identify many women under the age of 65 with osteoporosis in need of BMD testing. Over half of women would not have had a BMD performed based on guidelines for screening BMD in women <65. Further study is needed to characterize women under the age of 65 with osteoporosis with a FRAX MOF risk less than 9.3%.