Dr. Robert Lindsay, one of the authors of a guide the National Osteoporosis Foundation published in conjunction with the debut of the formula, said, "FRAX gives us the capacity to quantify these risk factors and look at how they interact with each other. For people with low bone mass, it's a far more rational and reasonable way to assess fracture risk."

While the new equipment may have software for doing these calculations, Denholtz wants people to understand that it's something that anyone can get with a normal Internet connection, so it's not necessary to buy new.

"They are making a big deal out of it because there is nothing new [in the industry]. The reality of it is that FRAX has been available for some time and all they are doing is incorporating it into software," he says. "You can get the numbers already on the web. It's the same screen you will see if you purchase software from GE or Hologic. Really, have your software running and then have the Internet running and you can see the same numbers without upgrading."

Other Uses
New developments in DXA technology are leading to major improvements in diagnosing osteoporosis, more accurately determining future fracture risk, and most recently, diagnosing cardiovascular disease.




"We are trying to find more utility for the DXA devices beyond just postmenopausal osteoporosis," Jenkins says. "A couple of years ago, we were cleared for the assessment of aorta calcification, a risk factor for cardiovascular disease."

In this application, the DXA technology takes a quick image of the lumbar and thoratic spine, which is part of the standard DXA exam, but visualizes abdominal aortic calcification to assess risk.

"This year, we are doing significant body composition measurement through DXA devices," he continues. "We can take very accurate measurements of not only body fat but also muscle mass and how it is distributed throughout the body."

The DXA test can also assess an individual's risk for developing fractures. The risk of fracture is affected by age, body weight, history of prior fracture, family history of osteoporotic fractures and lifestyle issues such as cigarette smoking and excessive alcohol consumption. These factors are taken into consideration when deciding if a patient needs therapy.

More Industry Reports