Skip to main content

Lund University Publications

LUND UNIVERSITY LIBRARIES

Impact on Health-Related quality of life after wearing compression garment or not for six months in women with mild breast cancer-related arm lymphedema. A cross-sectional study

Blom, Katarina Y. LU ; Johansson, Karin I. LU ; Nilsson-Wikmar, Lena B. ; Klernäs, Pia E. and Brogårdh, Christina B. LU (2023) In Acta Oncologica 62(5). p.528-534
Abstract

Background: Women with mild breast cancer-related arm lymphedema (BCRAL) mostly receive treatment with compression garments and instructions in self-care to prevent the progression of lymphedema. However, wearing a compression garment may be experienced as negative and may affect health-related quality of life (HRQOL) more than the lymphedema itself. The aim of this study was to investigate if there is a difference in lymphedema-specific HRQOL, between women with mild BCRAL wearing compression garments or not for 6 months. Material and methods: Participants with mild BCRAL (Lymphedema relative volume <10%) rated their HRQOL by the Lymphedema Quality of Life Inventory (LyQLI), 6 months after diagnosis and being randomized to... (More)

Background: Women with mild breast cancer-related arm lymphedema (BCRAL) mostly receive treatment with compression garments and instructions in self-care to prevent the progression of lymphedema. However, wearing a compression garment may be experienced as negative and may affect health-related quality of life (HRQOL) more than the lymphedema itself. The aim of this study was to investigate if there is a difference in lymphedema-specific HRQOL, between women with mild BCRAL wearing compression garments or not for 6 months. Material and methods: Participants with mild BCRAL (Lymphedema relative volume <10%) rated their HRQOL by the Lymphedema Quality of Life Inventory (LyQLI), 6 months after diagnosis and being randomized to compression group (CG) or non-compression group (NCG). Both groups received self-care instructions, and the CG was treated with a standard compression garment, compression class 1. Data from 51 women (30 in the CG and 21 in the NCG), were analyzed. Results: Both the CG and the NCG experienced a low negative impact on HRQOL in physical, psychosocial, and practical domains (score <1). However, the CG experienced a higher negative impact on median HRQOL in the practical domain compared to the NCG, 0.23/0.08 respectively, (p = 0.026). In the specific items, more participants in the CG reported a negative impact on HRQOL compared to the NCG in employment activities 23%/0%, (p = 0.032), embarrassment by lymphedema/compression garments 33%/5%, (p = 0.017), feeling discomfort/embarrassment while doing sports and hobbies 30%/5%, (p = 0.034) and having to answer questions about the lymphedema 27%/0% (p = 0.015). Conclusion: Overall, the lymphedema-specific HRQOL was high after 6 months in women with mild lymphedema, with only a minor difference between the groups. Some women may however perceive practical and emotional issues with the compression garment. These aspects should be considered in patient education and when planning/evaluating treatment. Trial registration: ISRCTN51918431.

(Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
; ; ; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
Breast cancer, compression garment, health-related quality of life, lymphedema, lymphedema quality of life inventory
in
Acta Oncologica
volume
62
issue
5
pages
7 pages
publisher
Taylor & Francis
external identifiers
  • pmid:37211678
  • scopus:85160078644
ISSN
0284-186X
DOI
10.1080/0284186X.2023.2213442
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
8861a1cb-347e-4a58-8fbf-29f7cae7c52a
date added to LUP
2023-09-22 12:54:36
date last changed
2024-04-19 01:17:08
@article{8861a1cb-347e-4a58-8fbf-29f7cae7c52a,
  abstract     = {{<p>Background: Women with mild breast cancer-related arm lymphedema (BCRAL) mostly receive treatment with compression garments and instructions in self-care to prevent the progression of lymphedema. However, wearing a compression garment may be experienced as negative and may affect health-related quality of life (HRQOL) more than the lymphedema itself. The aim of this study was to investigate if there is a difference in lymphedema-specific HRQOL, between women with mild BCRAL wearing compression garments or not for 6 months. Material and methods: Participants with mild BCRAL (Lymphedema relative volume &lt;10%) rated their HRQOL by the Lymphedema Quality of Life Inventory (LyQLI), 6 months after diagnosis and being randomized to compression group (CG) or non-compression group (NCG). Both groups received self-care instructions, and the CG was treated with a standard compression garment, compression class 1. Data from 51 women (30 in the CG and 21 in the NCG), were analyzed. Results: Both the CG and the NCG experienced a low negative impact on HRQOL in physical, psychosocial, and practical domains (score &lt;1). However, the CG experienced a higher negative impact on median HRQOL in the practical domain compared to the NCG, 0.23/0.08 respectively, (p = 0.026). In the specific items, more participants in the CG reported a negative impact on HRQOL compared to the NCG in employment activities 23%/0%, (p = 0.032), embarrassment by lymphedema/compression garments 33%/5%, (p = 0.017), feeling discomfort/embarrassment while doing sports and hobbies 30%/5%, (p = 0.034) and having to answer questions about the lymphedema 27%/0% (p = 0.015). Conclusion: Overall, the lymphedema-specific HRQOL was high after 6 months in women with mild lymphedema, with only a minor difference between the groups. Some women may however perceive practical and emotional issues with the compression garment. These aspects should be considered in patient education and when planning/evaluating treatment. Trial registration: ISRCTN51918431.</p>}},
  author       = {{Blom, Katarina Y. and Johansson, Karin I. and Nilsson-Wikmar, Lena B. and Klernäs, Pia E. and Brogårdh, Christina B.}},
  issn         = {{0284-186X}},
  keywords     = {{Breast cancer; compression garment; health-related quality of life; lymphedema; lymphedema quality of life inventory}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{5}},
  pages        = {{528--534}},
  publisher    = {{Taylor & Francis}},
  series       = {{Acta Oncologica}},
  title        = {{Impact on Health-Related quality of life after wearing compression garment or not for six months in women with mild breast cancer-related arm lymphedema. A cross-sectional study}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/0284186X.2023.2213442}},
  doi          = {{10.1080/0284186X.2023.2213442}},
  volume       = {{62}},
  year         = {{2023}},
}