Fox R A
Eur J Rheumatol Inflamm. 1982;5(3):285-8.
In old age, particularly in those over the age of 75 years, the disease process is operating in a unique setting. The awareness of this uniqueness has been slow in coming to the attention of the medical profession but the weight of clinical experience imposed by demographic change in the population has made this an urgent consideration. Arthritis presents in a setting where there are multiple ageing or degenerative features and it occurs frequently in conjunction with other diseases. Early and accurate diagnosis is of paramount importance in the elderly because of the many interacting factors and the fragile 'milieu interieur'. Judicious use of drugs with close monitoring is essential if the patients's well being is to be improved and the morbidity reduced. Joint disease, osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis make a significant contribution to disability and dependence in the elderly and have certain features which are more common than those found in the younger age groups.
在老年人群中，尤其是75岁以上的人群，疾病进程处于一种独特的背景下。医学界对这种独特性的认识姗姗来迟，但人口结构变化带来的临床经验积累已使这成为一个亟待考虑的问题。关节炎出现在存在多种衰老或退行性特征的背景中，且常与其他疾病并发。由于存在诸多相互作用的因素以及脆弱的“内环境”，对老年人而言，早期准确诊断至关重要。若要改善患者的健康状况并降低发病率，谨慎用药并密切监测必不可少。关节疾病、骨关节炎和类风湿关节炎在很大程度上导致了老年人的残疾和生活不能自理，且具有某些比年轻人群中更常见的特征。
