Predicting the probability of osteoporotic fracture risk in men versus women: do we need specific reference interventional thresholds for men?

Abstract

Background Gender differences in the diagnosis and treatment of osteoporosis is a relatively common phenomenon, particularly amongst those patients under 80 years of age presenting with fragility fractures. The clinical implications of these findings are that strategies, which tend to focus on osteoporosis management in women, should also pay enough attention to osteoporosis in men. However, there have been questions whether there is a gender difference when setting intervention thresholds for osteoporosis management. This work was carried out aiming to determine the fracture probabilities calculated by FRAX at which therapeutic intervention in older men and women can be considered. Results Assessment of fracture risk probability thresholds in men revealed that for hip fractures, ROC was 0.754 (95% CI: 0.69–0.817). The sensitivity was 80.5% for threshold probabilities of 2.5%. For the major osteoporosis fracture, ROC was 0.828 (95% CI: 0.694–0.963). The sensitivity was 87.5% for threshold probabilities of 10%. Assessment of fracture risk probability threshold in women ROC was 0.760 (95% CI: 0.691–0.83). The sensitivity was 76.1% for threshold probabilities of 3%. For major osteoporosis fracture, ROC was 0.848 (95% CI: 0.784–0.912). The sensitivity was 87.3% for threshold probabilities of 15%. Conclusion Operational aspects of osteoporosis management should consider gender specific fracture thresholds. Interventional thresholds were found to be different in men compared to women. This helps to optimise fracture prevention in older men.