New national osteoporosis guidance-implications for geriatricians.

Fragility fractures are painful, debilitating, often life-changing and accounted for an estimated 2.4% of pre-pandemic health care spending in the UK. Those who are older, frail and multimorbid have the highest fracture risk and therefore the most to gain from anti-osteoporosis treatments to reduce this risk. Currently, an unacceptable treatment gap exists between those eligible for and those who receive treatment. This commentary discusses the major changes to the new, National Institute for Health and Care Excellence accredited, UK National Osteoporosis Guideline Group (NOGG) guidance (published March 2022) most relevant to the management of older people's bone health. Changes include intervention thresholds; using fracture probabilities from FRAX; for patients too frail to undergo DXA; greater emphasis on vertebral fracture detection and the use of intravenous zoledronate as a first-line anti-osteoporosis therapy; the new concept of 'very high fracture risk' which should prompt consideration of use of parenteral anti-osteoporosis therapy; new guidance regarding anabolic treatment options; concerns regarding denosumab cessation; and the urgent need to get patients with a fragility fracture onto treatment to reduce re-fracture risk with follow-up to check tolerance and ensure adherence.

Access to fracture risk assessment by FRAX and linked National Osteoporosis Guideline Group (NOGG) guidance in the UK-an analysis of anonymous website activity.

In the UK, fracture risk guidance is provided by the National Osteoporosis Guideline Group (NOGG). NOGG usage showed widespread access through direct web-based linkage to FRAX. The facilitated interaction between fracture risk assessment and clinical guidelines could usefully be adopted in other countries. INTRODUCTION: In the UK, guidance on assessment of osteoporosis and fracture risk is provided by the National Osteoporosis Guideline Group ( www.shef.ac.uk/NOGG ). We wished to determine access to this guidance by exploring website activity. METHODS: We undertook an analysis of FRAX and NOGG website usage for the year between 1st July 2013 and 30th June 2014 using Google Analytics software. RESULTS: During this period, there was a total of 1,774,812 sessions (a user interaction with the website) on the FRAX website with 348,964 of these from UK-based users; 253,530 sessions were recorded on the NOGG website. Of the latter, two-thirds were returning visitors, with the vast majority (208,766; 82 %) arising from sites within the UK. The remainder of sessions were from other countries demonstrating that some users of FRAX in other countries make use of the NOGG guidance. Of the UK-sourced sessions, the majority was from England, but the session rate (adjusted for population) was the highest for Scotland. Almost all (95.7 %) of the UK sessions arose from calculations being passed through from the FRAX tool ( www.shef.ac.uk/FRAX ) to the NOGG website, comprising FRAX calculations in patients without a bone mineral density (BMD) measurement (74.5 %) or FRAX calculations with a BMD result (21.2 %). National Health Service (NHS) sites were identified as the major source of visits to the NOGG website, comprising 79.9 % of the identifiable visiting locations, but this is an underestimate as many sites from within the NHS are not classified as such. CONCLUSION: The study shows that the facilitated interaction between web-based fracture risk assessment and clinical guidelines is widely used in the UK. The approach could usefully be adopted in other countries for which a FRAX model is available.

Impact of the NOGG and NOF Guidelines on the Indication of Bone Mineral Density in Routine Clinical Practice.

The universal screening for osteoporosis by bone mineral density (BMD) is not feasible because of its unfavorable cost-benefit due to its low sensitivity. The aim of the present study was to estimate the population and economic impact of the diagnostic criteria of the National Osteoporosis Guideline Group (NOGG) and the National Osteoporosis Foundation (NOF) and assess the appropriateness of the BMD tests performed in routine clinical practice. A cross-sectional study was conducted in individuals referred for BMD testing who were not receiving antiresorptive therapy. The absolute risk of major and hip fracture was calculated using the British formula of the Fracture Risk Assessment Tool. NOGG and NOF guidelines diagnostic thresholds interventions were used. A total of 640 individuals were included, of which 95% were women, with a median age of 59.4 years (interquartile range = 14). When applying the NOGG criteria, BMD testing was recommended in 32.3% of the individuals, whereas this percentage increased to 75.6% with the NOF guidelines (p < 0.05). Regarding the appropriateness of the BMD tests performed, 31.9% were deemed appropriate according to both the NOGG and NOF guidelines, whereas 23.9% were considered inappropriate. In conclusion, the application of the NOGG and NOF guidelines led to a decrease in BMD indications, reducing costs and improving efficiency in the diagnostic management of osteoporosis, although variability exists between the guidelines.

Performance of the Brazilian Fracture Assessment Risk Tool (FRAX) model and the age-dependent intervention thresholds according to National Osteoporosis Guideline Group (NOGG) guidelines on fracture prediction in community-dwelling older adults: the São Paulo Ageing and Health (SPAH) Study.

The SPAH study is a population-based prospective cohort of Brazilian community-dwelling elderlies with higher fracture risk than observed in the studies used to construct the Brazilian FRAX model. In this study, the FRAX tool was a good fracture predictor within this high-risk elderly cohort, especially when calculated without bone density. PURPOSE: To determine the performances of FRAX and age-dependent intervention thresholds according to National Osteoporosis Guideline Group (NOGG) guidelines with and without bone mineral density (BMD) regarding fracture prediction in community-dwelling elderly Brazilians. METHODS: Seven hundred and five older adults (447 women; 258 men) were followed for 4.3 ± 0.8 years. FRAX risk for hip and major osteoporotic fractures with and without BMD was calculated at baseline. The bivariate analysis investigated the associations between the absolute probability of fracture (FRAX), as well as the age-dependent intervention thresholds (NOGG), and the incidence of vertebral fracture (VF), non-vertebral fracture (NVF), and major osteoporotic fractures (MOF), segregated by sex. Age-adjusted Poisson's multiple regression and ROC curves were constructed to determine FRAX and NOGG's accuracies as fracture predictors. RESULTS: Fractures occurred in 22% of women and 15% of men. FRAX with and without BMD was higher in women with all types of fractures (p < 0.001). Only NOGG risk classification without BMD was associated with NVF (p = 0.047) and MOF (p = 0.024). FRAX was associated with NVF in the multiple regression, regardless of BMD. ROC curves of FRAX with and without BMD had AUCs of 0.74, 0.64, and 0.61 for NVF, VF, and MOF, respectively. The most accurate risk cutoffs for FRAX were 8% for MOF and 3% for hip fractures. No statistically significant associations were found in men. CONCLUSION: FRAX predicted NVF more accurately than VF or MOF in elderlies, regardless of BMD. These results reiterate that FRAX may be used without BMD, even considering that Brazilian elderlies have known higher fracture risk.

UK clinical guideline for the prevention and treatment of osteoporosis.

The National Osteoporosis Guideline Group (NOGG) has revised the UK guideline for the assessment and management of osteoporosis and the prevention of fragility fractures in postmenopausal women, and men age 50 years and older. Accredited by NICE, this guideline is relevant for all healthcare professionals involved in osteoporosis management. INTRODUCTION: The UK National Osteoporosis Guideline Group (NOGG) first produced a guideline on the prevention and treatment of osteoporosis in 2008, with updates in 2013 and 2017. This paper presents a major update of the guideline, the scope of which is to review the assessment and management of osteoporosis and the prevention of fragility fractures in postmenopausal women, and men age 50 years and older. METHODS: Where available, systematic reviews, meta-analyses and randomised controlled trials were used to provide the evidence base. Conclusions and recommendations were systematically graded according to the strength of the available evidence. RESULTS: Review of the evidence and recommendations are provided for the diagnosis of osteoporosis, fracture-risk assessment and intervention thresholds, management of vertebral fractures, non-pharmacological and pharmacological treatments, including duration and monitoring of anti-resorptive therapy, glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis, and models of care for fracture prevention. Recommendations are made for training; service leads and commissioners of healthcare; and for review criteria for audit and quality improvement. CONCLUSION: The guideline, which has received accreditation from the National Institute of Health and Care Excellence (NICE), provides a comprehensive overview of the assessment and management of osteoporosis for all healthcare professionals involved in its management. This position paper has been endorsed by the International Osteoporosis Foundation and by the European Society for the Clinical and Economic Aspects of Osteoporosis, Osteoarthritis and Musculoskeletal Diseases.

Comparison of the NOF and NOGG guidelines for spinal radiographic examination in postmenopausal Chinese women.

The aim was to compare the National Osteoporosis Foundation (NOF) and the UK National Osteoporosis Guideline Group (NOGG) guidelines for the detection of vertebral fractures in postmenopausal Chinese women. The NOF guidelines had higher accuracy than the UK guidelines for spinal radiography examination. PURPOSE: To compare the National Osteoporosis Foundation (NOF) and the UK National Osteoporosis Guideline Group (NOGG) guidelines for the detection of vertebral fractures in postmenopausal Chinese women. METHODS: A cross-sectional study on 255 community-dwelling postmenopausal women was conducted in Hunan province in 2017. Demographic and clinical characteristics and risk factors were recorded through questionnaires. Height and weight were measured using standard methods, and bone mineral density (BMD) was measured with dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. Vertebral fractures were diagnosed by radiography using semi-quantitative morphometry. RESULTS: The prevalence of vertebral fractures was 9.4%. Women with vertebral fractures were significantly older and shorter, had higher years-since menopause and height loss values and lower BMD and T-scores at the femoral neck and total hip, and were more likely to have a history of previous fractures. The sensitivity and specificity of the NOF guidelines were 91.7% and 39.8%, respectively, while the NOGG guidelines had lower sensitivity (87.5%) and specificity (32.5%). However, a higher percentage had indications for radiography in the 50-64 years age group according to the NOGG guidelines, while a higher percentage had indications for radiography in the ≥ 65 year group according to the NOF guidelines. CONCLUSIONS: The NOF guidelines were better than the NOGG guidelines for spinal radiography examination in the Chinese postmenopausal women.

A comparative study between the implementation of the FRIDEX calibration and the NOGG guideline in the management of osteoporosis in routine clinical practice. / Estudio comparativo de la aplicación de la calibración FRIDEX y de la guía NOGG en el manejo de la osteoporosis en la práctica clínica habitual.

OBJECTIVE: The recent FRIDEX calibration proposed cost-effectiveness thresholds for the Spanish population. The aim of our study is to evaluate the impact of its application in routine clinical practice and to compare its thresholds with those of the National Osteoporosis Guideline Group (NOGG). MATERIAL AND METHODS: Cross-sectional study in women referred to a bone densitometry unit who were not receiving antiresorptive therapy. The absolute risk of major fracture or hip fracture was calculated with the Spanish and British formulas of the FRAX® tool using the intervention thresholds of the FRIDEX calibration and the NOGG guideline, respectively. RESULTS: The study included 607 women with a median age of 59.4 (IQR=14) years. Treatment was initiated in 31.4% after bone mineral densitometry. With the application of the FRIDEX calibration, bone mineral density testing would have been indicated in 35.4% of the sample and treatment in 26.7%, reducing costs by 18.8% over a 5-year period. The NOGG guideline would have recommended testing in 32% and treatment in 21.3% of the participants, resulting in a reduction in costs of 35% over 5years, when compared with the standard approach. Agreement between the FRIDEX calibration and the NOGG guideline, as defined by Cohen's kappa coefficient, was low in terms of both diagnostic (0.16 [95%CI, 0.09-0.24]) and therapeutic indications (0.39 [95%CI, 0.31-0.47]). CONCLUSIONS: The application of the FRIDEX calibration and the NOGG guideline improves efficiency in the management of osteoporosis, although the level of agreement between the two is low.

UK clinical guideline for the prevention and treatment of osteoporosis.

INTRODUCTION: In 2008, the UK National Osteoporosis Guideline Group (NOGG) produced a guideline on the prevention and treatment of osteoporosis, with an update in 2013. This paper presents a major update of the guideline, the scope of which is to review the assessment and management of osteoporosis and the prevention of fragility fractures in postmenopausal women and men age 50 years or over. METHODS: Where available, systematic reviews, meta-analyses and randomised controlled trials were used to provide the evidence base. Conclusions and recommendations were systematically graded according to the strength of the available evidence. RESULTS: Review of the evidence and recommendations are provided for the diagnosis of osteoporosis, fracture-risk assessment, lifestyle measures and pharmacological interventions, duration and monitoring of bisphosphonate therapy, glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis, osteoporosis in men, postfracture care and intervention thresholds. CONCLUSION: The guideline, which has received accreditation from the National Institute of Health and Care Excellence (NICE), provides a comprehensive overview of the assessment and management of osteoporosis for all healthcare professionals who are involved in its management.

Performance of the Fracture Risk Assessment Tool Associated with Muscle Mass Measurements and Handgrip to Screen for the Risk of Osteoporosis in Young Postmenopausal Women / Desempenho da ferramenta de avaliação de risco de fraturas associada à medida de massa muscular e à preensão manual no rastreio de risco de osteoporose em mulheres jovens pós-menopáusicas

Abstract Objective To evaluate the improvement in screening accuracy of the Fracture Risk Assessment Tool (FRAX) for the risk of developing osteoporosis among young postmenopausal women by associating with it clinical muscle mass measures. Methods A sample of postmenopausal women was submitted to calcaneal quantitative ultrasound (QUS), application of the FRAX questionnaire, and screening for the risk of developing sarcopenia at a health fair held in the city of São Bernardo do Campo in 2019. The sample also underwent anthropometric measurements, muscle mass, walking speed and handgrip tests. A major osteoporotic fracture (MOF) risk ≥ 8.5% on the FRAX, a classification of medium risk on the clinical guideline of the National Osteoporosis Guideline Group (NOGG), and a QUS T-score ≤ -1.8 sd were considered risks of having low bone mass, and QUS T-score ≤ -2.5sd, risk of having fractures. Results In total, 198 women were evaluated, with a median age of 64±7.7 years, median body mass index (BMI) of 27.3±5.3 kg/m2 and median QUS T-score of -1.3±1.3 sd. The accuracy of the FRAX with a MOF risk ≥ 8.5% to identify women with T-scores ≤ -1.8 sd was poor, with an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.604 (95% confidence interval [95%CI]: 0.509-0.694) for women under 65 years of age, and of 0.642 (95%CI: 0.571-0.709) when age was not considered. Including data on muscle mass in the statistical analysis led to a significant improvement for the group of women under 65 years of age, with an AUC of 0,705 (95%CI: 0.612-0.786). The ability of the high-risk NOGG tool to identify T-scores ≤ -1.8 sd was limited. Conclusion Clinical muscle mass measurements increased the accuracy of the FRAX to screen for osteoporosis in women aged under 65 years.

Resumo Objetivo Avaliar a melhora da precisão da Fracture Risk Assessment Tool (Ferramenta de Avaliação do Risco de Fraturas, FRAX, em inglês) no rastreio do risco de desenvolver osteoporose em mulheres jovens pós-menopáusicas com a associação de medidas clínicas de massa muscular e preensão manual. Métodos Uma amostra de mulheres pós-menopáusicas foi submetida a ultrassom quantitativo (USQ) de calcâneo, à aplicação do questionário FRAX, e rastreadas quanto ao risco de desenvolver sarcopenia em uma feira de saúde realizada em 2019 em São Bernardo do Campo. Alémdisso, a amostra tambémfoi submetida a antropometria, e a testes de massa muscular, velocidade de marcha, e preensão manual. Um risco de grandes fraturas osteoporóticas (GFOs) ≥ 8,5% no FRAX, classificação de médio risco nas diretrizes clínicas do National Osteoporosis Guideline Group (NOGG), e T-score no USQ ≤ -1,8 dp foram considerados riscos de ter baixa massa óssea, e T-score no QUS ≤ -2,5 sd, risco de ter fraturas. Resultados Ao todo, 198 mulheres foram avaliadas, com idade média de 64±7,7 anos, índice de massa corporal (IMC) médio de 27,3±5,3 kg/m2, e T-score médio no USQ de -1,3±1,3 sd. A precisão do FRAX comumrisco de GFO≥ 8,5% para identificar mulheres com T-score ≤ -1,8 dp foi precária, com uma área sob a curva (ASC) de 0,604 (intervalo de confiança de 95% [IC95%]: 0,509-0,694), para mulheres menores de 65 anos de idade, e de 0,642 (IC95%: 0,571-0,709) quando a idade não foi considerada. A inclusão de dados da massa muscular na análise estatística levou a uma melhora significativa no grupo menor de 65 anos de idade, com uma ASC de 0,705 (IC95%: 0,612-0,786). A habilidade da ferramenta NOGG de alto risco para identificar T-scores ≤ -1,8 dp foi limitada. Conclusão As medidas clínicas da massa muscular aumentaram a precisão do FRAX no rastreio de osteoporose em mulheres menores de 65 anos de idade.