Systematic review of quality of life and patient reported outcomes in patients with oncologic related lower extremity lymphedema Journal Article
| Authors: | Cemal, Y.; Jewell, S.; Albornoz, C. R.; Pusic, A.; Mehrara, B. J. |
| Article Title: | Systematic review of quality of life and patient reported outcomes in patients with oncologic related lower extremity lymphedema |
| Abstract: | Background: Lower limb lymphedema (LLL) is a common complication of cancer treatment. The disease is chronic and progressive with no cure. Although a common and significant source of morbidity, the impact of this condition on health-related quality of life (HRQOL) has only recently been addressed. In effort to identify valid treatment strategies for LLL, we performed a systematic review, identifying studies describing HRQOL outcomes in patients with LLL secondary to cancer. Methods and Results: Seven medical databases were searched to identify reports using validated Patient Reported Outcome (PRO) instruments on patients with cancer-related LLL. Studies were classified by levels of evidence set by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) and evaluated using the Efficace criteria. 25 studies were identified, 6 met inclusion criteria. Levels of evidence included: no level I studies, level II (n=3), level III (n=1), and level 4 (n=2). 50% of studies were compliant with the Efficace criteria. 5 PRO HRQOL instruments were used, but only 1 was specific to cancer-related lymphedema. Treatment strategies assessed included complete decongestive physiotherapy (CDP), exercise, and compression bandaging. CDP yielded significant enhancements in HRQOL. Conclusions: There is a deficit in high quality studies for HRQOL in patients with LLL secondary to cancer. Furthermore, of the studies present, most did not conform to guidelines set for assessment of HRQOL, nor did they use lymphedema condition specific PRO instruments. New measures specific to assessing LLL are necessary to gain more accurate evaluation of how this debilitating disorder affects HRQOL. © Copyright 2013, Mary Ann Liebert, Inc. |
| Keywords: | cancer patient; outcome assessment; lymph node dissection; sentinel lymph node; neoplasms; melanoma; quality of life; breast cancer; exercise; patient education; cancer pain; information retrieval; cancer therapy; cancer survivor; outcome assessment (health care); lymphedema; health status; cancer fatigue; life satisfaction; validity; anxiety; inguinal lymph node; short form 36; physiotherapy; physical capacity; lower extremity; physical therapy modalities; leg ulcer; compression bandage; leg lymphedema; complete decongestive physiotherapy; compression bandages |
| Journal Title: | Lymphatic Research and Biology |
| Volume: | 11 |
| Issue: | 1 |
| ISSN: | 1539-6851 |
| Publisher: | Mary Ann Liebert, Inc |
| Date Published: | 2013-03-01 |
| Start Page: | 14 |
| End Page: | 19 |
| Language: | English |
| PROVIDER: | scopus |
| PUBMED: | 23531180 |
| DOI: | 10.1089/lrb.2012.0015 |
| PMCID: | PMC3654818 |
| DOI/URL: | |
| Notes: | --- - "Export Date: 1 May 2013" - "CODEN: LRBYA" - ":doi 10.1089/lrb.2012.0015" - "Source: Scopus" |
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