Determination of Bone Fracture Risk in Kidney Transplant Recipients With FRAX Score

It is thought that the Fracture Risk Assessment Tool (FRAX) score of the World Health Organization (WHO) determines a 10-year fracture risk. This study aimed to investigate the major osteoporotic fracture (MOF) and hip fracture (HF) values determined with the FRAX score and practicality of the FRAX score in kidney transplant recipients (KTRs).

This study was conducted with 44 female and 59 male KTRs and 100 subjects in the healthy control group. Bone mineral density (BMD) was measured by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. FRAX scores were calculated from baseline information (age, height, weight, BMD of the femur and neck T score, fracture history, glucocorticoid use, smoking status, alcohol consumption, and presence of rheumatoid arthritis).

In KTRs, FRAX score MOF, and FRAX score HF were found to be significantly elevated, whereas the BMD femur T score was determined to be significantly low. No significant relationship was found among the FRAX score MOF and HF and kidney function tests and bone parameters. In the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis, which was performed based on the determination of the FRAX score, the cutoff point was determined as ≥ 3.4 for MOF and ≥ 0.4 for HF.

In KTRs, increased FRAX score MOF and HF compared with healthy individuals were determined. FRAX score MOF ≥ 3.4 and HF ≥ 0.4 values indicate high-risk patients for increased fracture risk. The high accuracy rates determined suggest that the use of the FRAX score in KTRs is a valuable method for determining fracture risk.