Evaluation of the validity of the FRAX^® algorithm for predicting risk of osteoporotic fracture in Iran

Objectives: The present study was designed to determine the most applicable FRAX^® model for the Iranian population. Methods: Seventy four men and women (with the mean age of 70 years), who had experienced at least a fragility fracture in their life, along with 162 individuals with no such an experience (with the mean age of 66 years), were enrolled in this study. Fracture probabilities were calculated using FRAX^® models from Jordan, Lebanon and the US. Results: We found a significant difference in the probability rate between the fracture cases and the controls; the rate, however, was lower than the recommended threshold for intervention, especially for the Lebanese and the Jordanian models. Conclusion: As for women all the three models had a good discrimination value, while the Lebanese and the Jordanian model needed to be revised. As for men, on the other hand, the Jordanian model had a low discriminative value. The Lebanese model, despite its acceptable discrimination value, needed a revision regarding its threshold. The US model was the most compatible.