Classification of functioning and assessment of fracture risk of a large Italian osteoporotic population. The Physiatric Approach to Osteoporosis project

Osteoporosis is a skeletal disorder characterized by compromised bone strength predisposing to an increased risk of fracture. Osteoporotic fractures cause significant morbidity, disability, and decrease in quality of life.The aims of the Physiatric Approach To Osteoporosis (PATO) project were to classify osteoporotic patients with or without fragility fractures, using the Brief ICF (International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health) Core Set for Osteoporosis and to calculate the fracture risk with the WHO FRAX® (World Health Organization Fracture Risk Assessment Tool) algorithm. DESIGN: Cross-sectional survey. SETTING: Seventy-nine Italian Rehabilitation Services distributed throughout Italy. POPULATION: Osteoporotic patients. METHODS: Each physiatrist involved in the survey was asked systematically to record demographic data, presence of fragility fractures, anamnestic risk factors included in the FRAX® Assessment Tool, ICF categories as they are listed in the Brief ICF Core Set for Osteoporosis, and treatment data of 100 osteoporotic patients (50 with at least a clinical fragility fracture and 50 without). RESULTS: In accordance with the FRAX® algorithm, the 35.22% of the interviewed osteoporotic patients had a FRAX® MAJ ≥ 20.00 and the 70.32% had a FRAX® HIP ≥ 3.00. The most commonly impaired ICF categories were the sensation of pain for the body functions, the structure of the trunk for body structures, lifting and carrying objects for the domain of activities and participation, and products or substances for personal consumption for the environmental factors. CONCLUSION: The FRAX® Assessment tool has been recognized as useful to identify people at high risk of fracture and the Brief ICF Core Set seems to be an important framework to be followed when dealing with osteoporotic patients in an outpatient setting or for clinical studies. CLINICAL REHABILITATION IMPACT: Osteoporosis is well recognized as a disabling disease, posing a significant challenge for the society, therefore physiatrists should always be involved, from prevention to treatment.