title: Frequency of FRAX risk factors in osteopenic postmenopausal women with and without history of fragility fracture.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Fractures associated with bone fragility represent a major public health concern. Although the risk of bone fracture is higher among patients with osteoporosis, the number of fractures is usually higher among patients with osteopenia due to its higher prevalence.
  
  
  METHODS
  This is an observational case series study that compares the frequencies of nonskeletal risk factors for osteoporotic fractures in osteopenic postmenopausal women with previous clinical fragility fractures (FFs) and osteopenic postmenopausal women without previous FF. Risk factors included in the FRAX algorithm and other selected risk factors, including asymptomatic vertebral fractures, were evaluated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 735 (50.3% with prior FF and 49.7% without prior FF) postmenopausal women were evaluated (median age, 60 y; mean bone mineral density [BMD] femoral neck T score of -1.67). The frequency of the following risk factors was significantly higher among women with FF-FRAX algorithm: age, use of corticosteroids, and BMD femoral neck T score; other factors: Hispanic ethnicity, falls during the last year, and BMD lumbar T score. In addition, the frequency of previously undetected asymptomatic vertebral fractures was four times higher among women with a history of FF.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results of the present study support the need to assess the presence of asymptomatic vertebral fractures and BMD T scores in osteopenic postmenopausal women. The risk evaluation of this subpopulation can be accomplished by using some of the risk factors included in the FRAX algorithm combined with other conventional risk factors.
authors.affiliation: Menopause Unit, Hospital Materno-Infantil Vall d'Hebron, Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Francesc
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Baró
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cano
authors.forename: Rafael
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Sánchez Borrego
authors.forename: Javier
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ferrer
authors.forename: Silvia Pilar
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: González Rodríguez
authors.forename: Jose Luis
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Neyro
authors.forename: Esteban
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Rodriguez Bueno
authors.forename: Cristina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Sancho
authors.forename: Verónica
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Inaraja
authors.forename: Cristina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Fernández
authors.forename: Carlos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Corral
mesh_terms: D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones / Q000009:adverse effects; D000367:Age Factors; D000465:Algorithms; D015519:Bone Density; D001851:Bone Diseases, Metabolic / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D005272:Femur Neck; D050723:Fractures, Bone / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae; D008875:Middle Aged; D015663:Osteoporosis, Postmenopausal / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology; D058866:Osteoporotic Fractures / Q000453:epidemiology; D017698:Postmenopause / Q000502:physiology*; D018570:Risk Assessment / Q000379:methods; D012307:Risk Factors; D013030:Spain / Q000453:epidemiology; D016103:Spinal Fractures / Q000453:epidemiology
chemical_list: D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones