노인에게 중요한 류마티스 질환의 진단과 치료

Diagnosis and Treatment of Rheumatic Diseases Important to the Elderly

The recent rapid aging of the population and the increase in the average life span have caused problems in the quality of life for the elderly due to various diseases occurring in the elderly. In addition, the increased incidence and prevalence of geriatric diseases have led to increased medical consumption and rising medical costs. Rheumatism in the elderly is the most common symptom and also the most common cause of disability in the elderly. Changes in the musculoskeletal system resulting from aging include decreased muscle strength, muscle atrophy due to decreased muscle activity and osteoarthritis caused by degenerative changes in joint cartilage, and osteoporosis and pathological fractures due to decreased bone density. In addition, diseases caused by these changes are not easy to cure and require long-term treatment, poor quality of life and enormous economic burden, so prevention, early diagnosis and steady treatment of rheumatic diseases are needed to enjoy a happy old age. In this article, I would like to briefly discuss the types of rheumatic diseases, diagnosis, differential diagnosis and treatment that are common to the elderly, which doctors who frequently treat older people must know.