Fracture risk tool built using QResearch

A score to predict the risk of patients suffering fractures due to osteoporosis has been developed using the QResearch database.

The fracture risk algorithm, QFractureScores, can be used by clinicians and patients to calculate an individual’s percentage risk of an osteoporotic fracture over the next ten years, allowing early interventions to take place according to researchers.

The tool is available as open source software www.qfracture.org and users are asked to enter details including age, sex, weight, height and illnesses to determine the risk of a fracture.

The QResearch database is a not-for-profit partnership between Nottingham University and health care IT supplier EMIS. More than 600 GP practices covering around 8m patients regularly contribute to it.

Prof Julia Hippisley-Cox, professor clinical epidemiology and clinical practice in Nottingham University and a co-director of QResearch, said the fracture score had been developed by analysing the anonymised records of more than 2m men and women registered at 357 GP practices over a 15 year period.

She added: “Osteoporotic fracture is a major cause of illness and a considerable burden to the health service.

“The new algorithm is able to identify patients who are at high risk of fracture who may benefit from early interventions. It is suitable for both clinical settings and for self assessment making it an extremely valuable and easy-to-use tool.”

Dr David Stables, co-founder of EMIS and a co-founder of QResearch, said: “This is a great example of how we can improve patient care and save the health service money by using the vast store of accurate, anonymous data contained within

QResearch. Making the new algorithm available as open source software stands to widen its use, so that even more people can benefit.”

The QResearch database has also produced the cardiovascular risk scores QRISK and QRISK2 formulas and the QDScore, an algorithm which can identify people at high risk of diabetes.

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