Nutritional needs of elderly people in long-term care

营养不良和非自愿体重减轻是长期护理机构的常见问题。老年人非自愿减肥已被证明会增加死亡风险。虽然在长期护理机构中，非自愿体重减轻很普遍，但营养不良的指标很难量化。例如，观察到明显的非自愿体重减轻而血浆白蛋白水平没有变化是非常常见的，血浆白蛋白水平经常被用作营养不良的生物标志物。尽管法规要求在长期护理环境中对老年人的非自愿减肥进行治疗，但很少有基于证据的研究证明最有效的治疗方法。本次会议的主题是“长期护理老年人的营养需求”。本次会议的目的是讨论在长期护理或医院环境中确定营养不良以及非自愿体重减轻的原因。此外，还将讨论营养不良和非自愿体重减轻的适当治疗。由于几乎没有基于证据的研究证明哪种治疗方法最有效，治疗方法是可变的，而且往往是经验主义的。虽然这次会议的一个目标是提供有关这些主题的当前知识的信息，但另一个目标将是说明知识存在的差距，并提供信息以制定新的研究议程。我们建议在适当的期刊上发表本次会议的会议记录，并建议这将是围绕这一重要议题举行的一系列定期会议的第一次会议。我们将邀请科学家、医生、营养师、护士和药剂师参与长期护理机构和医院老年人的治疗和管理。我们还将邀请制定营养不良和非自愿体重减轻治疗指导方针的监管机构成员，以及养老院和长期护理行业的成员。我们已预定2005年5月3日至5日在华盛顿特区的国家记者俱乐部举行这次会议。

Malnutrition and involuntary weight loss are common problems in long-term care facilities. Involuntary weight loss among elderly people has been demonstrated to increase mortality risk. While involuntary weight loss is prevalent in long-term care facilities, markers of malnutrition are difficult to quantify. For example it is very common to observe significant involuntary weight loss with no change in plasma albumen levels, a parameter that has very often been used as a biomarker for malnutrition. Despite regulations that require treatment of involuntary weight loss in elderly people in the long-term care setting, there is very little evidence-based research demonstrating the most effect therapy. The theme of the proposed meeting is "Nutritional needs of elderly people in long-term care." The purpose of this meeting will be to discuss the identification of malnutrition in the setting of long-term care or a hospital and causes of involuntary weight loss. In addition, appropriate treatment of malnutrition and involuntary weight loss will be discussed. Because there is little evidenced-based research demonstrating therapies that are most effective, treatment is variable and often empirical. While one goal of this conference will be to provide information concerning current knowledge about these subjects, another goal will be to state where gaps in knowledge exist and provide information to set a new research agenda. We propose to publish the proceedings of this meeting in an appropriate journal and we propose that this will be the first of a series of regular meetings focused on this important topic. We will invite scientists, physicians, dieticians, nurses, and pharmacists involved in the treatment and management of elderly people in long-term care facilities and hospitals. We will also invite members of regulatory agencies who set guidelines for the treatment of malnutrition and involuntary weight loss along with members of the nursing home and long-term care industry. We have reserved the National Press Club in Washington DC to hold this meeting on May 3-5, 2005.