[Malnutrition in the elderly--a challenge for health services].

Protein-energy malnutrition (PEM) remains common in elderly and chronically ill individuals. PEM is an independent risk factor for death in the elderly, and contributes to increased risk of infection, hip fracture, pressure sores and depression. Intervention studies indicate that nutritional treatment may confer positive effects in patients with chronic obstructive lung disease, during rehabilitation following hip fracture, and in elderly patients with multiple disorders. However, the scientific foundation for this is still weak, and for many wasting disorders there are no available data supporting a recommendation of nutritional treatment. Future challenges for clinical nutrition are the development of nutritional intervention programs and evaluation of adjuvant anabolic and inflammation modulating treatments for the elderly.