Absolute fracture risk.

Clinical evaluation of patients with low bone mass attempts to determine which patients should be offered one of the effective therapies for fracture prevention. Current guidelines are primarily based on bone density. Risk factors are used, but their contribution to fracture risk is not easily assessed. The combination of bone density and risk factors can be used to assess absolute fracture risk, the risk of fracture over a period of time expressed as a percent. This model will allow identification of patients who would benefit most from treatment.