Description
With the increasing growth in the proportion of older people in the general population, the prevalence of rheumatic diseases increases. In the elderly, the differential diagnosis of rheumatic diseases is extensive, since a variety of entities with similar signs and symptoms are prevalent in this population and may present less typically than in younger people. In addition the accuracy of rheumatologic laboratory tests may also differ in older versus younger patients. Therapeutic interventions in older people should take into account the physiologic alterations in pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics associated with ageing and the higher frequency of co-morbid conditions. The management plans should include targeted goals of pain relief, preservation of functional independence, mobility, and quality of life.
