Efficacy and safety of anti‐TNF therapy in elderly patients with inflammatory bowel disease

BACKGROUND: The general increased life expectancy is reflected in the age of patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). The knowledge about efficacy and safety of anti-tumour necrosis factor (TNF) therapy in elderly is scarce and conflicting. AIM: To assess the efficacy and safety of anti-TNF therapy in elderly patients taking into account eventual comorbidity. METHODS: Observational and retrospective single-centred study where 66 IBD patients initiating anti-TNF treatment at age ≥65 years (cases: ≥65 anti-TNF) were compared with 112 IBD patients initiating anti-TNF 0 were independent risk factors for malignancy and mortality regardless of the medication. CONCLUSION: Elderly patients treated with anti-TNF have a lower rate of short-term clinical response and a higher rate of severe adverse events than the younger patients under the same treatment.