Sequelae frequently seen in patients with chronic inflammatory diseases, such as fatigue, depressed mood, sleep alterations, loss of appetite, muscle wasting, cachectic obesity, bone loss and hypertension, can be the result of energy shortages caused by an overactive immune system. These sequelae can also be found in patients with chronic inflammatory diseases that are in remission and in ageing individuals, despite the immune system being less active in these situations. This Perspectives article proposes a new way of understanding situations of chronic inflammation (such as rheumatic diseases) and ageing based on the principles of evolutionary medicine, energy regulation and neuroendocrine–immune crosstalk. A conceptual framework is provided to enable physicians and scientists to better understand the signs and symptoms of chronic inflammatory diseases and long-term disease consequences resulting from physical and mental inactivity.

慢性炎症性疾病患者经常出现的后遗症，例如疲劳，情绪低落，睡眠改变，食欲不振，肌肉消瘦，恶病质肥胖症，骨质流失和高血压，可能是免疫系统过度活跃导致的能量短缺的结果。这些后遗症还可以在患有慢性炎症的患者中发现，尽管这些患者的免疫系统在这些情况下免疫活性较弱，但这些患者正在缓解并处于衰老状态。本《观点》文章提出了一种基于进化医学，能量调节和神经内分泌-免疫串扰原理的理解慢性炎症（如风湿性疾病）和衰老情况的新方法。