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Improving Rural Bone Health and Minimizing Fracture Risk in West Virginia: Validation of the World Health Organization FRAX® Assessment Tool as a Phone Survey for Osteoporosis Detection
Orthopaedics
  • Franklin D. Shuler, MD, PhD, Marshall University
  • Kelly Scott, MD, MPH
  • Timothy Wilson-Byrne, MD, Marshall University
  • Miranda R Morgan, Marshall University
  • Linda Morgan, Marshall University
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
5-1-2016
Abstract

West Virginia ranks second nationally in population ≥ 65 years old placing our state at greater risk for osteoporosis and fracture. The gold standard for detecting osteoporosis is dual X-ray absorptiometry (DXA), yet over half of West Virginia’s counties do not have this machine. Due to access barriers, a validated phone-administered fracture prediction tool would be beneficial for osteoporosis screening. The World Health Organization’s FRAX® fracture prediction tool was administered as a phone survey to 45 patients; these results were compared to DXA bone mineral density determination. Results confirmed that the FRAX® phone survey is as reliable as DXA in detecting osteoporosis or clinically significant osteopenia: 92% positive predictive value, 100% negative predictive value, 100% sensitivity and 91% specificity when compared to the gold standard. These promising results allow for the development of telephone-based protocols to improve osteoporosis detection, referral and treatment especially in areas with health care access barriers.

Comments

The copy of record is available from the publisher at http://www.wvsma.org/Journal/PastEditionsoftheJournal.aspx. Copyright © 2016 West Virginia State Medical Association. Reprinted with permission. All rights reserved.

Citation Information
Shuler FD, Scott K, Wilson-Byrne T, Morgan L, Olajide OB. Improving rural bone health and minimizing fracture risk in West Virginia: Validation of the World Health Organization FRAX® assessment tool as a phone survey for osteoporosis detection. West Virginia Medical Journal. May/June (Special CME Issue) 2016;112(3):84-88.