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.
Results The 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.