Treatment of elderly rheumatoid arthritis

This review summarizes the current approach to treating rheumatoid arthritis in the elderly and outlines the side effects encountered with the use of antirheumatic agents, including antitumor necrosis factor agents, in this population. With the aging of the western population, the prevalence and incidence of rheumatoid arthritis is increasing among elderly persons. The management of rheumatoid arthritis in the elderly requires special consideration with regards to comorbidities and the potential for an increased frequency of adverse events. There is a substantial need for optimizing various aspects of the diagnosis and therapy of arthritis in an effort to reduce the impact of inflammatory arthritis in the growing elderly population.