title: Low self-awareness of osteoporosis and fracture risk among postmenopausal women.
abstract: Postmenopausal women with a high risk of fractures may not perceive their risk. This study showed no concordance between the perceived and calculated risk of fracture. Almost 80 % of the women identified as a high risk of fracture by the FRAX algorithm tool perceived themselves to have little risk.
  
  
  
  This study aimed to assess the concordance between self-perception of osteoporosis and fracture risk and the 10-year risk of fractures calculated by the FRAX algorithm.
  
  
  
  A cross-sectional study was conducted in Santa Maria, RS, Brazil, between March 1 and August 31, 2013. Postmenopausal women over 55 years of age who have had at least one appointment at primary care in the 2 years prior to the enrolment were recruited. We excluded women with cognitive impairment. A standardized questionnaire regarding the perception of personal risk of osteoporosis and fractures was used. We also evaluated previous fractures, family history of fracture, smoking, alcohol consumption, use of glucocorticoids, and secondary causes of osteoporosis. Weight and height of the participants were measured. The risk of fractures of each participant was calculated using the FRAX algorithm (Fracture Risk Assessment Tool).
  
  
  
  Of the 1301 invited women, 1057 completed the survey. The average (mean [SD]) age and BMI were 67.2 (7.6) years and 29.3 (5.5) kg/m(2), respectively. Only 16.9 and 19.9 % participants believed themselves to be at a high risk of osteoporosis and fractures, respectively. There was no agreement between the perceived risk of fractures and the calculated FRAX risk of fractures. Moreover, almost 79.3 % of the women identified with a high risk of fractures by the FRAX algorithm perceived themselves as having little risk.
  
  
  
  These results show that postmenopausal women underestimate their risk of osteoporotic fractures when compared with their 10-year fracture risk according to FRAX algorithm.
authors: Grupo de Pesquisas em Doenças Osteometabólicas Crônicas, Departamento de Clínica Médica, Federal University of Santa Maria, Santa Maria, Brazil.
authors: Felipe Welter
authors: FW
authors: Langer
authors: Grupo de Pesquisas em Doenças Osteometabólicas Crônicas, Departamento de Clínica Médica, Federal University of Santa Maria, Santa Maria, Brazil.
authors: Antonio Aurelio
authors: AA
authors: da Silveira Codevilla
authors: Grupo de Pesquisas em Doenças Osteometabólicas Crônicas, Departamento de Clínica Médica, Federal University of Santa Maria, Santa Maria, Brazil.
authors: Raisa
authors: R
authors: Bringhenti
authors: Grupo de Pesquisas em Doenças Osteometabólicas Crônicas, Departamento de Clínica Médica, Federal University of Santa Maria, Santa Maria, Brazil.
authors: Léo Canterle
authors: LC
authors: Dal Osto
authors: Grupo de Pesquisas em Doenças Osteometabólicas Crônicas, Departamento de Clínica Médica, Federal University of Santa Maria, Santa Maria, Brazil.
authors: Thabara Renaty Sanchez
authors: TR
authors: Campos
authors: Grupo de Pesquisas em Doenças Osteometabólicas Crônicas, Departamento de Clínica Médica, Federal University of Santa Maria, Santa Maria, Brazil.
authors: Tamires Tolazzi
authors: TT
authors: Martins
authors: Grupo de Pesquisas em Doenças Osteometabólicas Crônicas, Departamento de Clínica Médica, Federal University of Santa Maria, Santa Maria, Brazil.
authors: Ana Elize
authors: AE
authors: Barin
authors: Grupo de Pesquisas em Doenças Osteometabólicas Crônicas, Departamento de Clínica Médica, Federal University of Santa Maria, Santa Maria, Brazil.
authors: Pietro Hagamenon
authors: PH
authors: Rigo
authors: Grupo de Pesquisas em Doenças Osteometabólicas Crônicas, Departamento de Clínica Médica, Federal University of Santa Maria, Santa Maria, Brazil.
authors: Natalia Diel
authors: ND
authors: Boufleuer
authors: Grupo de Pesquisas em Doenças Osteometabólicas Crônicas, Departamento de Clínica Médica, Federal University of Santa Maria, Santa Maria, Brazil.
authors: Sheyla Fabiane
authors: SF
authors: Santinon
authors: Grupo de Pesquisas em Doenças Osteometabólicas Crônicas, Departamento de Clínica Médica, Federal University of Santa Maria, Santa Maria, Brazil.
authors: Kaira
authors: K
authors: Kipper
authors: Grupo de Pesquisas em Doenças Osteometabólicas Crônicas, Departamento de Clínica Médica, Federal University of Santa Maria, Santa Maria, Brazil.
authors: Juliano
authors: J
authors: Rodrigues
authors: Grupo de Pesquisas em Doenças Osteometabólicas Crônicas, Departamento de Clínica Médica, Federal University of Santa Maria, Santa Maria, Brazil. premaor@ufsm.br.|Grupo de Pesquisa em Doenças Endócrino-Metabólicas Prevalentes, Departamento de Clínica Médica, Centro de Ciências da Saúde (CCS), Universidade Federal de Santa Maria (UFSM), Sala 1337, Prédio 26 - CCS, Avenida Roraima 1000, Campus UFSM, Santa Maria, RS, Brazil. premaor@ufsm.br.
authors: Melissa Orlandin
authors: MO
authors: Premaor
mesh_terms: D000465:Algorithms; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D015663:Osteoporosis, Postmenopausal / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D058866:Osteoporotic Fractures / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D011320:Primary Health Care / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D018570:Risk Assessment / Q000379:methods; D012307:Risk Factors; D012649:Self Concept; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
keywords: FRAX; Fracture risk; Osteoporosis; Postmenopausal women; Risk perception