BONEcheck: A digital tool for personalized bone health assessment

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Public Health
• Medical Informatics

Background:

• Osteoporotic fractures pose a significant public health challenge, leading to increased mortality and healthcare expenses.
• Early identification and risk mitigation are crucial for preventing fractures and managing bone health effectively.

Purpose of the Study:

• To introduce BONEcheck, a digital tool designed for personalized bone health assessment.
• To empower healthcare providers and patients with data-driven insights for informed decision-making regarding fracture risk.

Main Methods:

• BONEcheck development utilized data from the Dubbo Osteoporosis Epidemiology Study and the Danish Nationwide Registry.
• The tool incorporates modules for data input (age, gender, BMD, genetics, etc.), risk estimation, and risk contextualization.
• It estimates 5-year fracture probability, subsequent fracture risk, skeletal age, and time to osteoporosis.

Main Results:

• BONEcheck provides fracture risk probability in numeric and visual formats.
• Risk is contextualized with Australian guidelines, including potential benefits of treatment and management.
• Skeletal age is calculated, considering chronological age and mortality risk factors.

Conclusions:

• BONEcheck facilitates informed discussions between doctors and patients about bone health and fracture risk.
• The tool is publicly accessible online and via mobile applications (iOS and Android).