Repurposing a fracture risk calculator (FRAX) as a screening tool for women at risk for sarcopenia

Summary Osteoporosis and sarcopenia share risk profiles, so we tested a fracture risk assessment tool (FRAX) as a screening tool for sarcopenia. FRAX probabilities without bone mineral density predicted sarcopenia with high sensitivity and reasonable specificity. There is potential to use this FRAX as a screening tool for sarcopenia. Purpose There is a need for simple screening tools for sarcopenia. As osteoporosis and sarcopenia share risk profiles, we tested the performance of a fracture risk assessment tool for discriminating individuals at risk for sarcopenia. Methods In this longitudinal study, FRAX (Australia) probabilities were calculated for 354 women (ages 40–90 years) in the Geelong Osteoporosis Study. Sarcopenia was assessed a decade later using DXA-derived low appendicular lean mass (Lunar; ALM/height 2