[The elder patient with a rheumatic disease and comorbidities. Aspects of rheumatology in an ageing population]

Abstract

Elder patients with comorbidities are a rapidly growing population for in- and outpatient care. Diagnosis, treatment and integrated care are challenges which are only met by a multidisciplinary approach, which includes specialists from different medical professions and health professionals. A high number of comorbidities are a risk factor for drug interactions and fragmentisation of patient care between different medical disciplines. This is in particular relevant for patients with rheumatic diseases. So far it is not known whether treatment strategies such as the aim of remission induction in RA can be transferred as it is to the care of elder patients. Moreover, the safety and effectiveness of drugs used for the treatment of rheumatology patients has not yet been intensively studied. To meet the challenge of the care of a growing group of elder and multimorbid patients with rheumatic diseases, the reimbursement systems for in- and outpatient care must be adapted to allow multidisciplinary approaches. A concept for such a multidisciplinary procedure for inpatients with rheumatic diseases is introduced.