Validation and comparative evaluation of the osteoporosis self-assessment tool (OST) in a Caucasian population from Belgium.

BACKGROUND: Risk indices have been developed to identify women at risk of low bone mineral density (BMD) who should undergo BMD testing. AIM: To compare the performance of four risk indices in White ambulatory women in Belgium. DESIGN: Epidemiological cross-sectional study. METHODS: Records were analysed for 4035 postmenopausal White women without Paget's disease or advanced osteoarthritis, seen at an out-patient osteoporosis centre between January 1996 and September 1999. Osteoporosis risk index scores were compared to bone density T-scores. The ability of each risk index to identify women with low BMD (T-score < -2.0) or osteoporosis (T < -2.5) was evaluated. RESULTS: Using an Osteoporosis Self-Assessment Tool (OST) score <2 to recommend DXA referral, sensitivity ranged from 85% at the lumbar spine to 97% at the total hip to detect BMD T-scores of