FRAX-Style 10-Year Fracture Risk Estimator
What is the FRAX osteoporosis calculator?
The FRAX concept is used to estimate a person’s 10-year probability of fracture by combining age, sex, body measurements, and common osteoporosis risk factors. It helps clinicians decide who may benefit from deeper evaluation, bone density testing, or treatment.
In practice, healthcare teams use region-specific FRAX models because fracture rates differ by country and population. This page provides a practical FRAX-style educational calculator so you can understand how risk factors influence fracture probability.
How this calculator works
This tool estimates two outcomes over 10 years:
- Major osteoporotic fracture risk (hip, clinical spine, forearm, or humerus)
- Hip fracture risk
It uses a weighted model based on common FRAX inputs such as prior fracture, smoking, glucocorticoid use, rheumatoid arthritis, alcohol intake, and optional femoral neck T-score. The output is designed for education and screening conversations—not diagnosis.
Step-by-step use guide
1) Enter basic demographics
Start with age, sex, weight, and height. These fields are required and strongly influence risk. Risk generally rises with age, and low body mass often increases fracture probability.
2) Add clinical risk factors
Select “Yes” for each factor that applies to you:
- Previous fragility fracture
- Parent hip fracture history
- Current smoking
- Glucocorticoid exposure
- Rheumatoid arthritis
- Secondary osteoporosis causes
- Alcohol intake of 3 or more units per day
3) Optional T-score
If you have a femoral neck DXA result, enter your T-score. Including T-score can materially change estimated risk, especially in people with low bone mineral density.
How to interpret your result
After calculation, your output includes:
- Estimated 10-year major osteoporotic fracture risk (%)
- Estimated 10-year hip fracture risk (%)
- A simple risk band: low, moderate, or high
In many clinical settings, a major fracture risk of 20% or hip risk of 3% is considered a treatment discussion threshold, but exact cutoffs vary by guideline, age, and health profile. Always interpret values with a clinician.
Important limitations
- This page is not the official FRAX engine.
- It does not replace medical evaluation, imaging, labs, or physician judgment.
- Falls history, gait, vision, medications, and frailty can affect true risk but are not fully modeled here.
- Population-specific calibration may differ from your local healthcare region.
For definitive country-calibrated output, use the official FRAX site and discuss your results with your healthcare provider.
Bone health actions that lower future fracture risk
Nutrition and activity
- Adequate calcium and vitamin D intake
- Regular resistance and weight-bearing exercise
- Balance training to reduce falls
Lifestyle and safety
- Stop smoking
- Limit alcohol
- Review fall hazards at home (lighting, rugs, stairs)
- Check vision and footwear regularly
Medical follow-up
If your estimated risk is moderate or high, ask your clinician about DXA testing, secondary cause workup, medication options, and individualized follow-up timing.
FAQ
Is this result a diagnosis of osteoporosis?
No. Diagnosis usually depends on DXA T-scores, fracture history, and clinical assessment.
Can younger adults use this?
The calculator is constrained to ages 40-90, which mirrors typical FRAX age ranges used in risk discussions.
Should men use this too?
Yes. Men can develop osteoporosis and fractures, and risk should be evaluated when appropriate.