Is Biologic Safety Different in the Elderly? Save

The factors that influence the safety of biologic therapy are numerous. Amongst them, increasing age is a potential risk factor, moreso if you also consider the polypharmacy, comorbidities and longer disease duration inherent in an elderly group of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients.

Research led by Dr. Tageuchi at the Keio University School of Medicine in Japan analyzed the risks of biologic therapy in 309 RA patients, with a specific focus on those over the age of 65 years.

Specifically, they compared outcomes in 3 groups: A) Young (< 65 yrs old, n = 174), B) elderly (65–74 yrs old, n = 86), and C) older elderly patients (≥ 75 yrs old, n = 49).

They found the incidence of drug withdrawals from adverse events was significantly higher in elderly and older elderly patients compared with young patients. No difference in adverse events were found between elderly and older elderly patients.

Those with pulmonary complications (e.g., ILD, COPD, TB, pulmonary infections) were at a higher risk of adverse events.

Thus, while the elderly may require special attention in management, these researchers found that the safety of biologics in those ≥ 75 years old and 65–74 was comparable.