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FRAX Fracture Risk Calculator

Estimate your 10-year probability of major osteoporotic fracture and hip fracture using the WHO FRAX algorithm based on clinical risk factors.

Enter your age in years (40-90)
Enter your weight in kilograms
Enter your height in centimeters
Have you had a fracture after age 50?
Has either of your parents had a hip fracture?
Do you currently smoke tobacco?
Are you currently taking glucocorticoids?
Have you been diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis?
Do you have a condition associated with secondary osteoporosis?
Do you consume 3 or more units of alcohol per day?
Enter your femoral neck BMD in g/cm² (if available)

How to Use This Calculator

  1. Enter your age, gender, weight, and height in the respective fields
  2. Answer yes/no to the clinical risk factor questions
  3. Optionally enter your femoral neck BMD if available
  4. Click Calculate to see your 10-year fracture risk assessment
  5. Review your results and consider discussing them with your healthcare provider

Formula Used

FRAX uses country-specific algorithms that combine clinical risk factors with or without BMD to calculate 10-year fracture probability

Key risk factors include:

  • Age, gender, BMI (calculated from weight and height)
  • Previous fracture, parental hip fracture
  • Current smoking, glucocorticoid use
  • Rheumatoid arthritis, secondary osteoporosis
  • Alcohol consumption (3+ units/day)
  • Femoral neck BMD (when available)

Example Calculation

Real-World Scenario:

A 65-year-old woman who wants to assess her fracture risk after experiencing minor bone loss.

Given:

  • Age = 65 years
  • Gender = Female
  • Weight = 65 kg
  • Height = 165 cm
  • Previous fracture = Yes
  • Parent hip fracture = No
  • Current smoker = No
  • Glucocorticoids use = No
  • Rheumatoid arthritis = No
  • Secondary osteoporosis = No
  • Alcohol consumption = No
  • Femoral neck BMD = 0.85 g/cm²

Calculation:

The FRAX algorithm combines these risk factors to calculate the 10-year probability of major osteoporotic fracture and hip fracture.

Result: 10-year major osteoporotic fracture risk: 18% | 10-year hip fracture risk: 5%

Why This Calculation Matters

Practical Applications

  • Identifying individuals at high risk for fractures
  • Guiding treatment decisions for osteoporosis
  • Monitoring fracture risk over time

Key Benefits

  • Helps prevent fractures through early intervention
  • Provides personalized risk assessment
  • Supports informed decision-making about treatment

Common Mistakes & Tips

Ensure you enter weight in kilograms and height in centimeters. Converting from pounds to kilograms (divide by 2.205) and from feet/inches to centimeters (multiply inches by 2.54) is essential for accurate results.

FRAX risk categories vary by country. In the US, a 10-year major osteoporotic fracture risk of ≥20% or hip fracture risk of ≥3% is considered high risk. Always consult your healthcare provider to interpret your specific results.

Frequently Asked Questions

FRAX is validated for use in individuals aged 40-90 years. It may not provide accurate results for individuals outside this age range, as the risk algorithms were developed based on data from this population.

No, FRAX can be used with or without BMD measurements. While including femoral neck BMD can improve the accuracy of the assessment, the tool is designed to provide useful fracture risk estimates using clinical risk factors alone.

For most adults, reassessing fracture risk every 1-2 years is reasonable. More frequent assessment may be recommended if you start or stop medications that affect bone health, experience significant weight changes, or have a new fracture.

References & Disclaimer

Medical Disclaimer

This calculator is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.

References

Accuracy Notice

This calculator uses a simplified algorithm based on FRAX principles and may not exactly match the official FRAX tool. For clinical decision-making, please use the official FRAX tool available at https://www.sheffield.ac.uk/FRAX/ and consult with your healthcare provider.

About the Author

Kumaravel Madhavan

Web developer and data researcher creating accurate, easy-to-use calculators across health, finance, education, and construction and more. Works with subject-matter experts to ensure formulas meet trusted standards like WHO, NIH, and ISO.

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health medical-clinical-calculators frax fracture risk medical body weight