Risk-stratified Osteoporosis Strategy Evaluation Study (ROSE)

Osteoporosis is highly prevalent especially in postmenopausal women. Approximately 46 % of all women will suffer at least one osteoporotic fracture after the age of 50. The US Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) and National Osteoporosis Foundation (NOF) recommend screening with dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA) in all women aged 65 years and above regardless of risk factors. Nevertheless, the use of clinical risk factors has been shown to enhance the risk-gradient and accuracy of fracture risk prediction. The FRAX risk assessment score was derived from large population-based cohorts and validated in separate validation cohorts. Its use as a risk assessment tool is endorsed by WHO, but no prospective studies examining the effect of a screening programme using a combination of FRAX and DXA in a two-step manner have been performed previously.

35,000 women aged 65-80 years were selected at random from the population in the Region of Southern Denmark and -before inclusion-randomised to either a screening group or a control group. As first step, a self- administered questionnaire regarding risk factors for osteoporosis based on FRAX® was issued to both groups. As second step, subjects in the screening group with a 10-year probability of major osteoporotic fractures ≥15 % were offered a DXA scan. Patients diagnosed with osteoporosis from the DXA scan were advised to see their GP and discuss pharmaceutical treatment according to Danish National guidelines.

The primary outcome is incident clinical fractures as evaluated through annual follow-up using the Danish National Patient Registry. The secondary outcomes are cost-effectiveness, participation rate and patient preferences. The aim of the ROSE study is to investigate the effectiveness of a two-step population based osteoporosis screening programme using FRAX® based on self-administered questionnaire to select women for DXA followed by the standard osteoporosis treatment according to national guidelines and delivered by GPs in the Region of Southern Denmark. Secondary aims are to clarify whether the screening programme is cost-effective and to assess the patients' preferences, experience and acceptance of the screening programme. Moreover, sub-studies allow assessment of the effectiveness of FRAX® alone or combined with individual clinical risk factors in the prediction of fractures and the impact of socioeconomic factors for participation and outcome.