Abstract
Connective tissue diseases encompass a wide range of heterogeneous disorders characterised by immune-mediated chronic inflammation often leading to tissue damage, collagen deposition and possible loss of function of the target organ. Lung involvement is a common complication of connective tissue diseases. Depending on the underlying disease, various thoracic compartments can be involved but interstitial lung disease is a major contributor to morbidity and mortality. Interstitial lung disease, pulmonary hypertension or both are found most commonly in systemic sclerosis. In the elderly, the prevalence of connective tissue diseases continues to rise due to both longer life expectancy and more effective and better-tolerated treatments. In the geriatric population, connective tissue diseases are almost invariably accompanied by age-related comorbidities, and disease- and treatment-related complications, which contribute to the significant morbidity and mortality associated with these conditions, and complicate treatment decision-making. Connective tissue diseases in the elderly represent a growing concern for healthcare providers and an increasing burden of global health resources worldwide. A better understanding of the mechanisms involved in the regulation of the immune functions in the elderly and evidence-based guidelines specifically designed for this patient population are instrumental to improving the management of connective tissue diseases in elderly patients.
Abstract
CTDs in the elderly are often complicated by comorbidities with important prognostic implications http://ow.ly/XUbv1
Footnotes
Previous articles in this series: No. 1: Faner R, Cruz T, López-Giraldo A, et al. Network medicine, multimorbidity and the lung in the elderly. Eur Respir J 2014; 44: 775–788. No. 2: Divo MJ, Martinez CH, Mannino DM. Ageing and the epidemiology of multimorbidity. Eur Respir J 2014; 44: 1055–1068. No. 3: MacNee W, Rabinovich RA, Choudhury G. Ageing and the border between health and disease. Eur Respir J 2014; 44: 1332–1352. No. 4: Carraro S, Scheltema N, Bont L, et al. Early-life origins of chronic respiratory diseases: understanding and promoting healthy ageing. Eur Respir J 2014; 44: 1682–1696. No. 5: Chacko A, Carpenter DO, Callaway L, et al. Early-life risk factors for chronic nonrespiratory diseases. Eur Respir J 2015; 45: 244–259. No. 6: Barnes PJ. Mechanisms of development of multimorbidity in the elderly. Eur Respir J 2015; 45: 790–806. No. 7: Rodriguez-Roisin R, Bartolome SD, Huchon G, et al. Inflammatory bowel diseases, chronic liver diseases and the lung. Eur Respir J 2016; 47: 638–650.
Conflict of interest: Disclosures can be found alongside the online version of this article at erj.ersjournals.com
- Received May 26, 2015.
- Accepted January 23, 2016.
- Copyright ©ERS 2016