HMC's Fracture Risk Assessment Tool to enhance osteoporosis management in Qatar

Doha: In a first of its kind effort for Qatar, a group of investigators from Hamad Medical Corporation's (HMC) Rheumatology Osteoporosis team in collaboration with FRAX team from the University of Sheffield in the UK have formulated a fracture risk assessment tool (FRAX tool), which is expected to enhance osteoporosis management among Qatar's population.

"We are proud to have pioneered FRAX tool in Qatar. This initiative further puts Qatar at the fore front of countries with high-quality healthcare services. The FRAX tool has been recommended in more than 100 national and international guidelines and is expected to be adopted fully in Qatar soon a step being considered as a milestone in osteoporosis management in the country," says Dr. Samar Al Emadi, Head of Rheumatology Division at HMC.

According to her, FRAX tool is available in English and Arabic and can be used by healthcare workers as well as patients to predict the probabilities of their fragility fractures. "FRAX tool is an automated online calculator that enables a step change in the management of osteoporosis as patients can now be selected for therapy on their absolute fracture risk rather than bone mineral density - BMD T-score alone. The tool uses risk factors in addition to DXA measurements for improved fracture risk estimation. It is a useful tool that aids clinical decision making about the use of pharmacologic therapies in patients with low bone mass. The tool can be used with or without BMD to predict risk of fragility fracture in patients," she highlights.