Abstracts of the 35th European Symposium on Calcified Tissues

Abstract

Background: The World Health Organization plans to release a fracture risk model in 2008. Implementing fracture risk assessment in the clinic involves correct use of fracture risk tools, including counseling about risk and treatment to reduce risk. Methods: We developed a simple fracture risk tool using risk factors and fracture rates from the literature. We validated the risk findings in 2 cohorts. We tested the impact of quantitative 5- adn 10- year fracture risk data compared to bone density T-scores. Results: A simple risk model can be used to provide quantatitve risk fro individual patietns. When provded with such data, providers are more likely to treat eldelryl women who are not obviously osteoporotic and less likely to treat younger women with osteopenia. Conclusions: Fracture risk assessment is a practical and accurate way to make decisions regarding management of low bone mineral density. Quantitative risk data are preferred to T-scores.