title: Validation of the osteoporosis self-assessment tool in US male veterans.
abstract: The osteoporosis self-assessment tool (OST) is a screening instrument that uses age and weight as parameters to predict the risk of osteoporosis. This study was designed to evaluate OST in predicting osteoporosis in males. Male veterans aged 50yr and older with no prior diagnosis of osteoporosis and no prior bone densitometry (dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry [DXA]) testing were eligible for the study. Sociodemographic information, medical history, and risk factors for osteoporosis were recorded. Anthropometric measurements were taken and DXA testing performed. The OST index for each subject was calculated and predictive values and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were evaluated for OST and osteoporosis. Five hundred eighteen subjects underwent DXA, 92 (17.8%) had osteoporosis, 281 (54.2%) had low bone mass, and 145 (28.0%) had normal bone mineral density. The OST index ranged from -8 to 23 with a mean of 4 (standard deviation ± 4.3). An OST index of 6 or lower predicted osteoporosis with a sensitivity of 82.6%, specificity of 33.6%, and an area under the curve for the ROC curve of 0.67. OST index performed better in non-Hispanic whites and males >65 yr. OST predicts osteoporosis with moderate sensitivity and poor specificity in men.
authors.affiliation: Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Washington, DC, USA; Department of Medicine, Georgetown University, Washington, DC, USA. Electronic address: john.richards1@va.gov.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Steuart  Richards
authors.affiliation: Boston Division VA Health Care System, Boston University Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
authors.forename: Antonio A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Lazzari
authors.affiliation: Zablocki VA Medical Center in Milwaukee, Milwaukee, WI, USA; Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, USA.
authors.forename: Denise A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Teves Qualler
authors.affiliation: Medstar Health Research Institute, Hyattsville, MD, USA.
authors.forename: Sameer
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Desale
authors.affiliation: Biloxi VA Health Care System, Biloxi, MS, USA.
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Howard
authors.affiliation: Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Washington, DC, USA; Department of Medicine, Georgetown University, Washington, DC, USA; Department of Medicine, Howard University, Washington, DC, USA.
authors.forename: Gail S
authors.initials: GS
authors.lastname: Kerr
mesh_terms: D015502:Absorptiometry, Photon; D000368:Aged; D015519:Bone Density; D015331:Cohort Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010024:Osteoporosis / Q000175:diagnosis*; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012372:ROC Curve; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D012647:Self-Assessment; D014481:United States; D014728:Veterans
keywords: Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry; men; osteoporosis self-assessment tool; screening