Rheumatoid arthritis in older adults.
Rheumatoid arthritis is a common problem in older adults with varied clinical presentations, which can present a diagnostic challenge. Patients experience a significant functional decline and are placed at increased risk of institutionalization. Multidisciplinary care should focus on all factors contributing to disability, including pain management and depression. Current therapeutic modalities offer an array of choices to the geriatrician. Drug selection should be individualized to reflect each patient's level of disease activity and risk for specific toxicities.
Division of Aging, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02215, USA. klsewell@bidmc.harvard.edu
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D000368:Aged; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018501:Antirheumatic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence
D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D018501:Antirheumatic Agents