Abstract

Background: Chronic edema is a condition posing a high burden on patients. The primary aim of the study was to assess the health-related quality of life (QoL) of adult patients living with chronic edema.Methods and Results: As part of an international, multicenter, prospective study, we prospectively assessed the health-related QoL of adult patients living with a chronic edema using a disease-specific tool and a generic one. In total, 1094 patients were included, aged 57 years on average. The average EQ-5D and LYMQOL visual analogue scale (VAS) scores were equal to 63.6 (SD = 20.2) and 6.3 (SD = 2.0), respectively. After adjustment, the EQ-5D VAS was explained by LYMQOL VAS (β = 7.85; p < 0.001), age (β = −0.08; p = 0.02), obesity (β = −1.89; p = 0.001), and male gender (β = 3.32; p = 0.002). As for the LYMQOL VAS, it was independently associated with EQ-5D VAS (β = 0.07; p < 0.001), LYMQOL function (β = −0.21; p < 0.001), and LYMQOL mood (β = −0.49; p < 0.001).Conclusion: This study confirms that patients living with a chronic edema experience a poor disease-specific and generic health-related QoL.

Highlights

  • Chronic edema is characterized by persistent swelling of a body part that has been present for >3 months.[1]

  • The vast majority of studies focus on breast cancer–related chronic edema or lower limb chronic edema, and little is known about the impact of chronic edema on health-related quality of life (QoL)

  • The primary aim of the study was to assess the healthrelated QoL of adult patients living with chronic edema

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Summary

Introduction

Chronic edema is characterized by persistent swelling of a body part that has been present for >3 months.[1] Chronic edema types include lymphedema, lymphovenous edema, lipedema, and gravitational edema. It can affect the upper or lower limbs, the trunk, genitals, head, face, neck, or a combination of these.[2] Chronic edema is a chronic, incurable condition and poses a high burden on patients due to pain and swelling. Methods and Results: As part of an international, multicenter, prospective study, we prospectively assessed the health-related QoL of adult patients living with a chronic edema using a disease-specific tool and a generic one.

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