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Abstract
Background:
Osteoporosis is an increasing
worldwide systemic skeletal
disorder leading to fragility
fractures, affecting approximately
200 million people globally,
with 8.9 million fractures
occurring annually (1).
The
burden of osteoporotic fractures
is significant, encompassing
physical, emotional, and financial
consequences associated with
direct and indirect treatment
costs.
In
2021, Qatar pioneered a national
FRAX tool which is accessible
for use by health care professionals
and patients.
Primary
care is a better place than
many other specialities in
providing an holistic approach
in patient care. Early detection
and management of osteoporosis
through the help of primary
care physicians is of paramount
importance.
Methodology:This
is a narrative review of published
articles looking at using
the FRAX tool in primary care
to screen and detect osteoporosis
in Qatar, using Google online
search engine. I included
reviews, clinical trials,
systemic reviews concentrating
on the most recent articles
published in Qatar and neighbouring
countries in the last 5 years.
Results:
There is still a large treatment
gap of osteoporosis, related
to a low rate of osteoporosis
diagnosis (2).
Most
studies and guidelines recommend
early detection and management
of osteoporosis and the importance
of screening postmenopausal
and elderly men for osteoporosis.
Studies
in Qatar and neighbouring
countries demonstrated average
levels of knowledge on osteoporosis,
lack of knowledge on how to
use the FRAX tool and lack
of awareness about country-specific
calculators of the FRAX tool
among primary care physicians
as well as difficulty of integrating
the assessment in busy clinics
(3).
Implications:
We need to increase the awareness
of osteoporosis and the use
of the FRAX tool among primary
care physicians in Qatar by
providing educational and
training sessions. We can
also integrate the use of
the FRAX tool into routine
health check and screening
of elderly patients. Further
clinical trials and audits
will help understand the obstacles
in-depth and allow us to overcome
them.
Conclusion:
In conclusion primary care
physicians can have an important
role in early detection and
management of osteoporosis
by using the FRAX tool on
a targeted population. There
are limitations to the FRAX
tool, because of the limited
number and details of risk
factors included in the assessment.
Regional studies found that
primary care physicians have
difficulties in using the
FRAX tool, partly from lack
of knowledge of osteoporosis
and the use of the FRAX tool,
plus the lack of available
time in busy clinics.
Keywords:
Osteoporosis: FRAX tool: primary
health care: Qatar
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