Community Screening for Fracture Risk in Older Women is Effective and Feasible Save

A UK Study published in Lancet shows that community-based screening programme for fracture risk in older women is feasible, and may reduce hip fractures. 

Older women, age 70-85 yrs, were identified and participated in the trial and were assessed using the Fracture Risk Assessment Tool (FRAX) with usual management. 12 483 were enrolled and 6233 women randomly assigned to the screening group.

The use of osteoporosis medication was higher at the end of year 1 in the screening group compared with controls (15% vs 4%), and higher (78% at 6 months) in the screening high-risk subgroup.

Although FRAX screening did not reduce the risk of all osteoporosis-related fractures (HR 0·94, 95% CI 0·85–1·03, p=0·178); it did reduce the incidence of hip fractures (HR 0·72, 0·59–0·89, p=0·002).

There was no evidence of differences in mortality, anxiety levels, or quality of life.