TNF and rheumatoid arthritis: However, a study reported that age was not a risk factor for drug discontinuation due to AEs with TNF inhibitors.[15] Further, it has been reported that TNF inhibitor use does not increase the risk of serious infections in elderly patients with RA compared to non TNF inhibitor users.[16] In this way, there is little evidence to support the association between the age of patients with RA and the rate of AEs onset caused by bDMARDs.