VASA. Zeitschrift für Gefässkrankheiten
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Health and quality of life in patients with primary and secondary lymphedema of the lower extremity.
Little is known about comprehensively measured health and quality of life of lower limb lymphedema (LLL). The aim of this study was to determine health and quality of life of LLL patients stratified by primary and secondary lymphedema compared to a normative population-based data stratified by age, sex and comorbidity. ⋯ Overall health and quality of life was high and comparable to the general population norms in primary LLL. The same was true for most psycho-social scales in secondary LLL whereas functionally some deficits were recorded. Cancer as the most frequent cause for secondary LLL may affect health in these dimensions. Reported negative effects of LLL seem to be well compensated, especially in primary LLL and under optimal treatment.