FRAX risk assessment uses clinical risk factors with optional input of what?

• A. Diet quality index
• B. Bone mineral density measurement
• C. Blood pressure readings
• D. Vitamin D serum level

Answer: (B)

FRAX risk assessment is built on clinical risk factors and can include bone mineral density input to refine the estimate. The clinical factors—age, sex, weight, height, prior fracture, parental hip fracture, smoking, glucocorticoid use, rheumatoid arthritis, secondary osteoporosis, and alcohol use—are always used, and adding a bone mineral density measurement (typically from a DXA scan at the femoral neck) updates the calculated 10-year fracture risk. If BMD isn’t provided, FRAX still works using the clinical factors alone, but including BMD makes the result more accurate by directly reflecting bone strength. Other data like diet quality, blood pressure, or vitamin D level aren’t part of the FRAX calculation.