The impact of obesity on chronic oedema/lymphoedema of the leg – an international multicenter cross-sectional study (LIMPRINT)
Authors' conclusion
Obesity negatively impacts chronic oedema, leading to more advanced stages. Achieving good control of swelling with compression is more difficult in these patients. Increased awareness of chronic oedema/lymphoedema as a complication of obesity is important for early detection and for developing effective strategies to prevent and manage them.
Study context
- Population
- Patients with clinically confirmed chronic oedema/lymphoedema of the leg, 38 centres, nine countries
- Participants
- 7,397 patients38 centres
- Exposure
- Normal weight vs class I-II obesity vs class III obesity
- Outcome
- Advanced chronic oedema (ISL stage III)
Methodological detailsinternational, multicentre, multivariable model
- International
- Multicentre
- Multivariable model
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
P < 0.001
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
Distribution of weight categories
Factors independently associated with increased weight
- Diabetes, OR
- 2.4
- Secondary lymphoedema, OR
- 2.7
- Cellulitis/erysipelas within 12 months, OR
- 1.2
- Bilateral lymphoedema, OR
- 3.6
- Compression therapy, OR
- 2.1
- Swelling duration 1-2 years, OR
- 1.3
- Swelling duration 2-5 years, OR
- 2.5
- Swelling duration 5-10 years, OR
- 3.6
- Swelling duration >10 years, OR
- 3.5
- Walking with aid, OR
- 1.9
- Chair bound, OR
- 1.2
- Age 45-64 years vs <45 years, OR
- 1.5
- Age 75-84 years vs <45 years, OR
- 0.6
- Age 85+ years vs <45 years, OR
- 0.2
- Peripheral arterial disease (lower presentation), OR
- 0.7
- Chronic oedema control (poorer), OR
- 0.8
- Multivariable model
Quality of life (LYMQOL, EuroQol)
- Patients with obesity had lower function, appearance and more severe symptoms (LYMQOL) and lower quality of life (EuroQol)
Original publication
The impact of obesity on chronic oedema/lymphoedema of the leg – an international multicenter cross-sectional study (LIMPRINT). Int J Obes (Lond). Published 3 July 2024. doi:10.
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