Assessment of Fracture Risk through Radiofrequency Echographic Multi Spectrometry (REMS) based Bone Mineral Density

Abstract

Introduction: Fracture Risk Assessment Tool (FRAX) was developed by the World Health Organization (WHO) to be applicable to both postmenopausal women and men aged 40 to 90 years. The current National Osteoporosis Foundation Guide recommends treating patients with FRAX 10-year risk scores of > or = 3% for hip fracture or > or = 20% for major osteoporotic fracture, to reduce their fracture risk.Methods: 189 postmenopausal women with mean age 60 years ± 9 standard deviations (SD), (range 40-86) were included in the study. Women were divided in 2 fracture risk groups: 1st -with FRAX score for major osteoporotic fracture below 20% and for hip fracture below 3%, and 2nd -with FRAX score for major osteoporotic fracture ≥ 20% and for hip fractures ≥3%. Descriptive statistical analysis was used to describe the patients' characteristics in both groups. Independent sample t-test was used to assess the significant association between the quantitative variables and chi-square test -for the qualitative variables.Results: 77.8% of the women (147/189) had FRAX score for major osteoporotic fracture below 20% and 22.2% (42/189) with FRAX score ≥20%. 62.4% (118/189) of the women had FRAX score for hip fracture below 3% and 37.6% (71/189) had FRAX score ≥3%. Women with FRAX score for major osteoporotic fracture ≥20% and FRAX score for hip fracture ≥3% were significantly older (p=0.000), had significantly lower weight (p=0.000), height (p=0.000) and femoral neck BMD (p=0.000) compared to those with FRAX score for major osteoporotic fracture below 20% and FRAX score for hip fracture below 3%. Conclusion:Postmenopausal women at older ages, with low femoral neck BMD, low weight and height, who had previous fractures, have diagnosis of Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and use corticosteroids are at the highest risk of FRAX for major osteoporotic fractures ≥20% and for hip fractures ≥3%.