Background
The Fracture Risk Assessment (FRAX) tool has been developed by the World Health Organization
(WHO) to calculate 10-year probability hip fracture (HP) or major osteoporotic fracture
(MOF). The objective of this study was to assess the 10-year probability of MOF and
HF among a selected sample of Palestinian people.Methods A sample of 100 subjects was studied. Dual energy X-ray absorpitometry was performed
to measure bone mineral density (BMD) which was then inserted into FRAX Palestine
online WHO tool to calculate the 10-year probability of MOF and HF.
ResultsThe median age of participants was 61.5 years and the majority (79%) were females.
The median (interquartile range) of femoral hip BMD was 0.82 (0.76-0.92) g/cm2. The mean vertebral and hip T scores were -1.41 ± 0.13 SDs and -0.91 ± 0.10 SDs respectively.
About one fifth of the sample (21%) had vertebral osteoporosis and 5% had hip osteoporosis.
The median (interquartile range) 10-year probability of MOF and HF based on BMD were
3.7 (2.43-6.18)%, and 0.30 (0.10-0.68)% respectively.
Conclusion
Osteoporosis is common among Palestinian people above 50 years old. Bone fracture
prevention strategies and research should be a priority in Palestine. Using FRAX might
be a helpful screening tool in primary healthcare centres in Palestine.
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