Nutritional needs of elderly people in long-term care

营养不良和非自愿减肥是长期护理机构的常见问题。事实证明，老年人的非自愿减肥会增加死亡风险。虽然非自愿减肥在长期护理机构中很普遍，但营养不良的标志很难量化。例如，观察到显著的非自愿体重下降而血浆蛋白水平没有变化是非常常见的，这一参数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进行非自愿减肥治疗，但很少有循证研究证明最有效的治疗方法。这次会议的主题是“长期护理中老年人的营养需求”。这次会议的目的将是讨论在长期护理或医院的环境中确定营养不良以及非自愿减肥的原因。此外，还将讨论营养不良和非自愿减肥的适当治疗。由于几乎没有循证研究证明最有效的治疗方法，治疗方法是可变的，而且往往是经验性的。虽然这次会议的一个目标是提供有关这些主题的现有知识的信息，但另一个目标将是说明知识中存在的差距，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记录，我们建议这将是集中讨论这一重要议题的一系列定期会议的第一次。邀请长期护理机构和医院参与老年人治疗和管理的科学家、医生、营养师、护士和药剂师。我们还将邀请制定营养不良和非自愿减肥治疗指南的监管机构成员以及疗养院和长期护理行业的成员。我们已经预订了华盛顿特区的全国记者俱乐部，将于2005年5月3日至5日举行这次会议。

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.