Premium
Quality of life in patients with primary and secondary lymphedema in the community
Author(s) -
Herberger Katharina,
Blome Christine,
Heyer Kristina,
Ellis Franziska,
Münter KarlChristian,
Augustin Matthias
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
wound repair and regeneration
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.847
H-Index - 109
eISSN - 1524-475X
pISSN - 1067-1927
DOI - 10.1111/wrr.12529
Subject(s) - lymphedema , medicine , quality of life (healthcare) , physical therapy , visual analogue scale , comorbidity , disease , cross sectional study , pediatrics , cancer , pathology , nursing , breast cancer
Lymphedema is a complex and burdensome medical problem and requires continuous specific therapy. The aim of this cross‐sectional study of community lymphedema care in the metropolitan area of Hamburg, Germany, was to evaluate health‐related quality of life (QoL) in lymphedema patients. Generic as well as disease‐specific health‐related QoL was assessed using EQ‐5D and FLQA‐LK, respectively. Pain was assessed using a visual analogue scale (VAS). About 301 patients (median age of 60.5 years, 90.8% female) with lymphedema of any origin were included. About 66.4% had lymphedema, 24.1% combined lipolymphedema, and 9.5% lipoedema. Mean disease‐specific QoL (FLQA‐LK) was 2.4 (range 0 = no to 4 = maximum burden). The highest impairment values were observed in subscales for physical complaints, everyday life, and emotional well‐being. Mean EQ‐5D VAS was 70.4, mean EQ‐5D score 63.3. Lymphedema was associated with major impairments in QoL, which differed for subgroups of pain, clinical severity, and comorbidity. Pain as a common problem for lymphedema patients seemed to be underestimated and undertreated. Early diagnosis and structured treatment strategies are urgently needed.