Abstract
Fragility fractures carry high health and social care costs for patients, families, and health systems. Falls are a fundamental risk factor for sustaining a fragility fracture, and hence fracture risk assessment is an intrinsic component of any falls evaluation. I will review the relationship between falls and incident fracture and outline strategies for assessing fracture risk. I will review the different fracture risk assessment tools available, including FRAX. I will discuss approaches to fracture risk assessment in the context of falls. Sarcopenia is an important risk factors for falls. Recently the European Working Group on Sarcopenia in Older People (EWGSOP) updated their diagnostic criteria for sarcopenia, placing a greater emphasis on muscle strength and physical performance. Whilst measures of muscle mass may not add to the clinical prediction of fractures over an above a tool such as FRAX, I will discuss the value of tests of muscle function, impairment of which characterises sarcopenia, in the prediction of fracture risk. I will further present data on patient’s own perception of fracture risk and how this might be influenced by a history of falls.
Urinary pentosidine improves risk classification using fracture risk assessment tools for postmenopausal women
