An Update on the Fracture Risk Assessment Tool: What Have We Learned over 15+ years?

Abstract

The Fracture Risk Assessment Tool (FRAX) was launched in 2008 and uses clinical variables to estimate 10-year fracture risk. FRAX has been incorporated into clinical treatment guidelines and is well validated in specific disease states like chronic kidney disease. However, there are risk factors which are not captured by FRAX such as diabetes and falls. The use of race-ethnicity as a factor in FRAX is a source of controversy. Though other risk calculators exist, FRAX is likely to remain the gold standard for fracture risk prediction. An update of FRAX using data from a larger cohort is in development.

Keywords: FRAX; Fracture probability; Osteoporosis; Risk assessment.