Quality of Life in Patients with Primary and Secondary Lymphedema in the Community
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Quality of Life in Patients with Primary and Secondary Lymphedema in the Community. / Herberger, Katharina; Blome, Christine; Heyer, Kristina; Ellis, Franziska; Münter, Karl-Christian; Augustin, Matthias.
In: WOUND REPAIR REGEN, Vol. 25, No. 3, 05.2017, p. 466-473.Research output: SCORING: Contribution to journal › SCORING: Journal article › Research › peer-review
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TY - JOUR
T1 - Quality of Life in Patients with Primary and Secondary Lymphedema in the Community
AU - Herberger, Katharina
AU - Blome, Christine
AU - Heyer, Kristina
AU - Ellis, Franziska
AU - Münter, Karl-Christian
AU - Augustin, Matthias
N1 - © 2017 by the Wound Healing Society.
PY - 2017/5
Y1 - 2017/5
N2 - 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.
AB - 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.
KW - Journal Article
U2 - 10.1111/wrr.12529
DO - 10.1111/wrr.12529
M3 - SCORING: Journal article
C2 - 28370792
VL - 25
SP - 466
EP - 473
JO - WOUND REPAIR REGEN
JF - WOUND REPAIR REGEN
SN - 1067-1927
IS - 3
ER -