New tool to assess bone fracture risk

Poor bone health is expected to cost the nation more than $3 billion this year and result in a broken bone every 3.4 minutes, says Osteoporosis Australia.

While releasing new statistics on fractures, OA is also unveiling a new online tool, Know Your Bones, on Thursday to help adults assess their likelihood of fractures.

The tool summarises bone fracture risk by assessing age, gender, weight, history of fracture, bone mineral density, and history of falls and lifestyle factors within the past 12 months - which people can take to their GP for further discussion.

The tool is a joint initiative with the Garvan Institute of Medical Research, whose Professor Jacqueline Center says it is based on research from the 26-year-long Dubbo Osteoporosis Epidemiology Study.

The study revealed that once someone with poor bone health fractures a bone, the risk of breaking another bone doubles in women, and increases three-to-four-fold in men.

"Furthermore, there is a strong link between all major fractures and premature death," Prof Center said.

OA says 7.5 million Australians live with brittle bones and poor bone health will lead to 155,000 fractures this year.