The fracture risk assessment calculator FRAX is a widely utilized clinical tool which calculates an individual's 10-year probability of osteoporotic fracture. Developed by the Centre for Metabolic Bone Diseases, University of Sheffield, UK and supported by the International Osteoporosis Foundation, this freely accessible online tool assists primary health-care providers to better target patients most likely to benefit from osteoporosis treatment.

The recently launched version 3.9 of the FRAX website now includes country models for Croatia, Estonia, Israel and Venezuela. The can now be used in a total of 57 countries (with 62 calculation models). Country models are developed from country-specific epidemiological data of osteoporotic fracture incidence and mortality rates. Models are usually developed in collaboration with the major national bone societies in the country. To date, with the recent addition of Croatian and Estonian, the calculator can be accessed in 30 languages.

With increasing worldwide use, the online FRAX tool has recently reached the milestone of 10 million individual online calculations*. Dr. Eugene McCloskey, Professor in Adult Bone Disease and Honorary Consultant at the Metabolic Bone Centre, University of Sheffield UK, stated, "Physicians worldwide are now using FRAX routinely as an aide in making informed treatment decisions within the course of a clinical examination. The surge in the number of calculations can be attributed to the fact that FRAX is recommended by an increasing number of national management guidelines, and the number of country models has seen a steady increase since the launch of FRAX in 2008."

FRAX is freely accessible as an at http://www.shef.ac.uk/FRAX. To provide for flexible use in all clinical environments, including those without internet access, the calculator is also available as an iPhone/Android-compatible App, as a Desktop application and in paper format.

The calculation tool generates the following results:

  • The 10-year probability of a major osteoporotic event
  • The 10-year of a hip fracture
  • Body Mass Index
  • For UK, Finnish and Lebanese users, guidance is accessible, providing a guide for assessors, interpreting the results and indicating potential courses of action.

*since tracking began in June 2011.

Provided by International Osteoporosis Foundation