Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
. 2017 Jun;14(3):561-568.
doi: 10.1111/iwj.12648. Epub 2016 Aug 4.

The impact of lower limb chronic oedema on patients' quality of life

Adelene Greene  1 , Pauline Meskell  2
Affiliations

The impact of lower limb chronic oedema on patients' quality of life

Adelene Greene et al. Int Wound J. 2017 Jun.

Abstract

This study aimed to explore patients' perceptions regarding the impact that lower limb chronic oedema has on their quality of life (QoL). A quantitative descriptive design was used to collect data from patients with lower limb chronic oedema. A condition-specific validated questionnaire was distributed to a purposive sample (n = 122) through manual lymphatic drainage/vascular/health clinics in Ireland. Results indicated that patients with lower limb chronic oedema experience a wide range of physical problems such as limb heaviness (74%, n = 66), weakness (44%, n = 40) and pain (38%, n = 34). Additionally, difficulties with walking (53%, n = 48), standing (51%, n = 46) and bending (45%, n = 40) were reported. Concerns regarding poor body image were strongly evident (76%, n = 68). Difficulties finding clothing/footwear to fit oedematous limb(s) were reported (59%, n = 53), in addition to finding clothes that participants would like to wear (64%, n = 58). Emotional symptoms of irritability (42%, n = 38), anxiety (41%, n = 37) and tension (40%, n = 36) were reported. Over half of the participants (55%, n = 49) stated that their chronic swelling affected their social functioning and their ability to engage in leisure activities. This study has identified that lower limb chronic oedema has significant psychological, social and physical implications for persons' QoL.

Keywords: Chronic oedema; Gravitational/dependency oedema; Lipoedema; Lymphoedema; Lymphovenous oedema; Quality of life.

PubMed Disclaimer

References

    1. Williams AF, Moffatt CJ, Franks PJ. A phenomenological study of the lived experiences of people with lymphoedema. Int J Palliat Nurs 2004;10:279–286. - PubMed
    1. Morgan PA, Franks PJ, Moffat CJ. Health related quality of life with lymphoedema: a review of the literature. Int Wound J 2005;2:47–62. - PMC - PubMed
    1. Murray M. Living with lymphoedema in Ireland: a mixed methods exploration of patient and service provider perspectives. Unpublished MSc Thesis. Dublin: Dublin City University, 2010.
    1. Gethin G, Byrne D, Tierney S, Strapp H, Cowman S. Prevalence of lymphoedema and quality of life among patients attending a hospital based wound management and vascular clinic. Int Wound J 2011;9:120–125. - PMC - PubMed
    1. Moffatt CJ, Franks PJ, Doherty DC, Williams AF, Badger C, Jeffs E, Bosanquet N, Mortimer PS. Lymphoedema: an underestimated health problem. Q J Med 2003;96:731–738. - PubMed