Abstract
The purpose of this project was to improve early identification of women aged 50-65 at risk for osteoporosis-related fractures using the FRAX® tool, increase clinician knowledge of clinical risk factors that pre-dispose women to osteoporosis-related fracture. Osteoporosis-related fracture impact ranges from loss of function related to activities of daily living to significantly increased healthcare expenditures and increased morbidity and mortality. In the U.S., the cost of osteoporosis-related fractures and associated treatment reached an average of $22 billion in 2008. By identifying and treating patients at risk for osteoporosis-related fractures sooner with widened screening using the FRAX® Tool, it is thought that morbidity, mortality, and healthcare costs related to osteoporosis-related fractures can be mitigated. Women aged 50-65 presenting to a primary care clinic in the Midwest for either chronic care management or well exams. The FRAX® Tool screening assessment was adapted to paper format and administered in the clinic setting to determine the 10-year risk of major osteoporosis-related fracture to all women aged 50-65 years that were being seen for either chronic care management or well exams. Women with scores at or above 9.3% met criteria to undergo further screening with DXA, with DXA ordering based upon patient and provider discretion. 60 FRAX® forms were completed, reflecting 60 women that would otherwise have not been routinely screened for osteoporosis who received screening in some capacity. Of these women, 48% met the criteria to undergo DXA screening. Number of DXA scans ordered by the observed provider in this 10-week time period was 26 in 2019 and 32 in 2020, marking an increase of 23.07%.|Keywords: Osteoporosis, fracture, FRAX®, clinical risk factor