From Multimorbidity to Network Medicine in Patients with Rheumatic Diseases

The transition from a comorbidity-based to a multimorbidity-focused to ultimately a network medicine approach in people with rheumatic diseases might mark a significant shift in how we understand and manage these complex conditions. Multimorbidity expands on the concept of comorbidity by encompassing the presence of multiple diseases, which results in further individual and societal impacts. This approach, while valuable, often leads to fragmented care focused on individual diseases rather than the patient as a whole. Network medicine, on the other hand, offers a more integrated perspective. It is an emerging concept that leverages the understanding of biologic networks and their interactions within the human body to gain insights into disease mechanisms. In the context of rheumatic diseases, network medicine involves examining how different diseases interconnect and influence each other through shared pathways, genetic factors, and molecular mechanisms. This paradigm shift allows for a more holistic understanding in how we manage rheumatic diseases. For instance, rheumatic diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis and systemic lupus erythematosus are not just a collection of symptoms affecting various organs but are also interconnected through underlying systemic inflammatory processes, immune system dysregulation, and genetic predispositions.