APPLICATION OF FRAX® 2.0 IN ASSESSING FRACTURE RISK IN COMMUNITY-DWELLING OLDER ADULTS

INTRODUCTION: Increased population longevity has led to a higher prevalence of fragility fractures, significantly impacting morbidity, mortality, and healthcare costs. Screening tools, such as FRAX Brazil 2.0, enable the early identification of at-risk individuals, guiding preventive strategies. OBJECTIVE: To describe the initial results of bone fragility screening using FRAX 2.0 among older adults at a community center in the northern zone of Londrina, Paraná. METHODS: A cross-sectional study involving a convenience sample of 154 older adults. Osteoporotic fracture risk was assessed using FRAX Brazil 2.0, a validated tool for estimating the 10-year probability of fractures. Variables considered included body mass index, previous fracture, parental history of hip fracture, current smoking, glucocorticoid use, rheumatoid arthritis, secondary osteoporosis, and alcohol consumption. RESULTS: Among the participants, 123 (84%) were female, with a mean age of 75 years and a body mass index of 28 kg/m². Only 28% reported a previous fracture, while 94% had no family history of hip fracture. The majority were non-smokers (94%), did not use glucocorticoids (95%), did not have rheumatoid arthritis (87%) or secondary osteoporosis (94%), and did not consume three or more alcoholic drinks per day (98%). Despite the low frequency of these risk factors, 34% were classified as having a high or very high fracture risk, indicating a need for priority attention. Consequently, approximately one in three older adults already requires preventive measures. CONCLUSION: The use of FRAX proved feasible and identified a high proportion of older adults at risk of fragility fractures in the studied community. These findings highlight the importance of integrating bone fragility screening into public health policies, particularly in primary care. Although regression analyses and predictive modeling were not performed to identify the variables contributing most to fracture risk, previous fractures and prolonged glucocorticoid use are well-established risk factors for fragility fractures.