OBJECTIVES: The FRAX® model recently developed by the WHO calculates 10-year probability of major osteoporotic and hip fracture, offering new basis for medical decision making and health economic analysis in osteoporosis (OP). [http://www.shef.ac.uk/FRAX/]. Patients’ ideas regarding fracture risk and longevity might influence their perception of 10-year fracture risk data and compliance, and as a consequence, successful implementation of FRAX® based thresholds in everyday OP care. Our aim was to study whether FRAX® data differ from OP patients’ and attendant especialists’ self-estimations on fracture risk. We also assessed expectations on longliving which is a crucial point to perceive the 10-year farcture risk projection of FRAX® relevant. METHODS: In 2009 a cross-sectional survey was performed in 10 Hungarian rheumatology centres. Postmenopausal OP patients appearing on routine visit and switching to second line antiporotic drug were involved. Demographics, main clinical characteristics were registered. Patients’ estimation on 10-year fracture risk and longliving were surveyed. Physicians’ expectations on patients’ perspectives were likely detected. FRAX® was calculated and matched with the estimations. RESULTS: 224 patients were involved, mean(SD): age 69.5(8.9)years, duration of OP care 6.7(5.1)years, lumbar Tsc-3.17(0.82), femoral Tsc-2.69(0.87),  133(59.4%) patients had OP fracture previously. Health status VAS was 59(17)mm. FRAX®-major OP fracture was 26(15.7)%, patients estimated 32.7(25.8)%, physicians marked 29.9(21.4)%. Results for hip fracture were: FRAX® 12.6(15.3)%, patients 26.7(25.3)%, physicians 21.5(19.1)% (p<0.01). Patients’ expected to live until age 82.4(8.2)years, physicians’ estimation was nearly same (82.5, SD7 yrs). Less than 10-year survival was expected by 42,4% and 33.7%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Both patients and physicians overestimate fracture risk, especially for hip. Patients often expect to live shorter than the time-frame of the fracture risk projection. These aspects should be highly considered in health communication and also in the application of the FRAX® method in clinical practice.