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. 2014 Sep 11;8(9):e3140.
doi: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0003140. eCollection 2014 Sep.

Impact of a community-based lymphedema management program on episodes of Adenolymphangitis (ADLA) and lymphedema progression--Odisha State, India

Katherine E Mues  1 , Michael Deming  2 , David G Kleinbaum  3 , Philip J Budge  2 , Mitch Klein  3 , Juan S Leon  3 , Aishya Prakash  4 , Jonathan Rout  4 , LeAnne M Fox  2
Affiliations

Impact of a community-based lymphedema management program on episodes of Adenolymphangitis (ADLA) and lymphedema progression--Odisha State, India

Katherine E Mues et al. PLoS Negl Trop Dis. .

Abstract

Background: Lymphedema management programs have been shown to decrease episodes of adenolymphangitis (ADLA), but the impact on lymphedema progression and of program compliance have not been thoroughly explored. Our objectives were to determine the rate of ADLA episodes and lymphedema progression over time for patients enrolled in a community-based lymphedema management program. We explored the association between program compliance and ADLA episodes as well as lymphedema progression.

Methodology/principal findings: A lymphedema management program was implemented in Odisha State, India from 2007-2010 by the non-governmental organization, Church's Auxiliary for Social Action, in consultation with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. A cohort of patients was followed over 24 months. The crude 30-day rate of ADLA episodes decreased from 0.35 episodes per person-month at baseline to 0.23 at 24 months. Over the study period, the percentage of patients who progressed to more severe lymphedema decreased (P-value = 0.0004), while those whose lymphedema regressed increased over time (P-value<0.0001). Overall compliance to lymphedema management, lagged one time point, appeared to have little to no association with the frequency of ADLA episodes among those without entry lesions (RR = 0.87 (0.69, 1.10)) and was associated with an increased rate (RR = 1.44 (1.11, 1.86)) among those with entry lesions. Lagging compliance two time points, it was associated with a decrease in the rate of ADLA episodes among those with entry lesions (RR = 0.77 (95% CI: 0.59, 0.99)) and was somewhat associated among those without entry lesions (RR = 0.83 (95% CI: 0.64, 1.06)). Compliance to soap was associated with a decreased rate of ADLA episodes among those without inter-digital entry lesions.

Conclusions/significance: These results indicate that a community-based lymphedema management program is beneficial for lymphedema patients for both ADLA episodes and lymphedema. It is one of the first studies to demonstrate an association between program compliance and rate of ADLA episodes.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1. 30-day rate of ADLA episodes, Khurda District, Odisha State, India.
July 2009–July 2011. A. Overall 30-day rate of ADLA episodes. B. 30-day rate of ADLA episodes stratified by presence of inter-digital entry lesions. C. 30-day rate of ADLA episodes stratified by baseline lymphedema status: early lymphedema (stages 1–3), advanced lymphedema (stages 4–7).
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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