Performance of the Osteoporosis Self-assessment Screening Tool for osteoporosis in American men.
OBJECTIVE
To determine whether the Osteoporosis Self-assessment Tool (OST) can predict central bone mineral density in men, as defined by dual energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA).


METHODS
We applied the OST index to men in pulmonary (evaluated January-May 2001) and rheumatology (evaluated November 2001-March 2002) clinics at a veterans hospital. The calculated OST risk index is based on weight and age.


RESULTS
In 181 men, we arbitrarily defined osteoporosis as a DXA T score of -25 or less in the spine, total hip, or femoral neck. The mean age and weight of the men were 64.3 years and 91.2 kg; 15.6% had osteoporosis by DXA. The OST index ranged from -5 to 19, from which we categorized risk as follows: low, 4 or greater; moderate,-1 to 3; and high, -2 or less. Only 2.0% of men with a low-risk OST index had osteoporosis, whereas 27.0% with a moderate risk and 72.7% with a high risk had osteoporosis. Using an OST cutoff score of 3, we predicted osteoporosis with a sensitivity of 93% and a specificity of 66%. When patients were studied by age in decades, race, or current glucocorticoid use, the predictive value of the OST was maintained.


CONCLUSIONS
The OST is an easy method to predict osteoporosis by DXA.
Adler
Robert A
RA
Endocrinology Section, McGuire Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Richmond, VA 23249, USA. robert.adler@med.va.gov
Tran
Mongthuong T
MT
Petkov
Valentina I
VI
D015502:Absorptiometry, Photon; D000368:Aged; D019540:Area Under Curve; D015519:Bone Density; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000379:methods*; D008875:Middle Aged; D010024:Osteoporosis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D015995:Prevalence; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D012648:Self Care; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014481:United States