The Malnutrition in the Elderly (MaNuEL) Knowledge Hub: Tackling the increasing problem of malnutrition in older persons

Poster
2017 Cape Town [Global Evidence Summit]
Torbahn G1, Visser M2, Corish C3, Geisler C4, de Groot L5, Cruz-Jentoft AJ6, Lohrmann C7, O’Connor EM8, Schindler K9, de van der Schueren M10, Kiesswetter E1, Streicher M1, Volkert D1
1Institute for Biomedicine of Aging, Faculty of Medicine, Friedrich-Alexander-University of Erlangen-Nuremberg
2Department of Internal Medicine, Nutrition and Dietetics, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam; Department of Health Sciences, Faculty of Earth and Life Sciences, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam Public Health Institute
3School of Public Health, Physiotherapy and Sports Science, University College Dublin
4Institut für Humanernährung und Lebensmittelkunde, Christian-Albrechts-Universität, Kiel
5Division of Human Nutrition, Wageningen University
6Servicio de Geriatría, Hospital Universitario Ramón y Cajal, Madrid
7Institute of Nursing Science, Medical University of Graz
8Department of Life Sciences, University of Limerick
9Department of Internal Medicine III, Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Medical University Vienna
10Department of Internal Medicine, Nutrition and Dietetics, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam; Faculty of Health and Social Studies, Department of Nutrition, Sports and Health, HAN University of Applied Sciences, Nijmegen

Background:

Malnutrition in older people is an increasing health problem, mainly due to the changes in demographics in developed countries. It is associated with serious functional and health problems, which affect well-being and quality of life of the individual but also increase costs and burden for our healthcare systems.

Objectives:

In order to tackle the increasing problem of malnutrition (i.e. protein-energy malnutrition) in the older population, the Joint Action “Malnutrition in the Elderly (MaNuEL) Knowledge Hub” was launched as part of the Strategic Research Agenda of the Joint Programming Initiative (JPI) 'A Healthy Diet for a Healthy Life (HDHL)'.

Methods:

MaNuEL is a consortium of 22 research groups from 7 countries (Austria, France, Germany, Ireland, Spain, the Netherlands and New Zealand) that is advised by a stakeholder board of experts in geriatric nutrition. Five interconnected work packages focus on defining treatable malnutrition, screening of malnutrition in different settings, determinants, prevention and treatment of malnutrition, and policies and education regarding malnutrition screening and treatment in older persons across Europe. Systematic reviews and secondary data analyses are performed to describe the present fragmentary picture on malnutrition and to identify potential knowledge gaps. Dissemination and implementation of results relevant for clinical practice will take place through publications in scientific journals, presentations at scientific congresses as well as reports and recommendations which will be distributed to relevant national and international organisations. To support clinical practice, a toolbox containing relevant information about screening for malnutrition in different settings based on valid screening tools, and the most effective prevention and treatment strategies for malnutrition in older persons, will be made available on the HDHL website.

Conclusions:

MaNuEL aims to extend scientific knowledge, to strengthen evidence-based practice in the management of malnutrition in older persons, and to build a transnational competent network of experts for future harmonised research and clinical practice.