Backgroundː There is a lack of clinical and epidemiological knowledge about cancer-related lymphedema in Mexico. The objective of this study is to present a broad and deep report of cancer-related lymphedema’s clinical characteristics and epidemiological features based on the analysis of CRL patients’ data, collected from a specialized rehabilitation clinic in Mexico. Methodsː This is a cohort study based on the analysis of clinical data gathered between 2015 and 2022. The study was developed in a private clinic that specializes in oncological patients’ rehabilitation. Clinical assessments and interviews were performed to collect each case’s clinical history, considering diverse clinical characteristics and demographic information, classified in a matrix, and statistically evaluated. Resultsː Among 307 lymphedema patients, gender distribution was represented by 87.9% (270) female and 12.1% (37) male; mean age of 54.5 years (± 32.5); 79.8% of the patients corresponded to breast cancer diagnosis, the rest of them were associated with other 19 different types of cancer. 90.2% of patients underwent some lymph node removal procedure, 68.1% of patients received fractioned radiotherapy sessions, and 87.7% received some chemotherapy scheme treatment. 64% of patients had a diagnosis of lymphedema and had onset symptoms of lymphedema in the first 5 years after oncological interventions and/or cancer diagnosis, most of them during the first 2 years. The general distribution of clinical staging was: 23.7% in stage 0; 20.1% in stage I; 44.6% in stage II, and in stage III 11.4%. Regarding body mass index, it was found a mean of 26.7 BMI. 61.2% of patients ranged between overweight and obesity. 43.3% of patients with CRL reported a disability to perform one or more activities due to lymphedema. 80% of patients had no physical activity or performed under the minimal physical activity recommended for the population group they belong. Conclusionː This study reports broad epidemiological and clinical features of a group of cancer-related lymphedema patients in Mexico, it was possible to identify diverse potential factors and relations that influence the clinical features of CRL; it is necessary to explore all factors and the interactions among them for a better understanding of CRL patients in the country.
Background: The clinical features and epidemiological data about patients with phebolymphedema or lymphedema related to Chronic Venous Disease in Mexico is limited and has been understudied; at the same time, the relationships between its clinical features, physical activity level and disability remained unknown. Methods: This is a longitudinal cohort study based on the analysis of clinical data of 90 patients gathered between 2021 and 2022. The statistical analysis was carried out using the software SPSS version 25 and GrandhPad Prism 8; a descriptive analysis was developed using measures of central tendency for the variables of a quantitative nature and frequency distribution for those categorical variables. The behavior of the variables was revealed through the Shapiro-Wilk statistic. The mean difference analysis was carried out with the Student’s T for independent samples. To identify the effect of gender, age, and severity of the disease on the study variables, a three-way analysis of variance was obtained with a Sidak comparison analysis. For the associations between qualitative and dichotomous nature variables, the Chi-Square statistic was obtained along with the odds ratio to determine the intensity of the relationships found. Results: A total of 90 patients were included in the analysis; 71% (64) were female and 29% (26) were male; with a mean age of 62.7 years old (± 30.5). A mean BMI of 33.2, 79.9% (77) of patients reached overweight and obesity ranges. 50% (45) of patients reported disability to perform one or more daily life activities related to the disease’s condition (signs, symptoms, volume). Only 12% (10) of all patients performed at or above the minimum physical activity recommended for their population group, and 88% (80) of patients had no physical activity or performed under the proper population group’s recommendation of minimal physical activity. It was found that the practice of physical activity, the number of compromised segments, the stage of the pathology, and the presence of cardiological and metabolic antecedents provide a statistically significant association with disability. Notable statistical difference among sex as a risk factor was not found. Regarding the BMI, the only differences were observed in the level of severity of the disease, regardless of the presence of any disability (p=0.006), evidencing that the greater the severity, the higher the BMI in both men and women. About physical activity, it is observed that inactivity or minimal practice of physical activity is a risk factor for referred disability (p<0.05), since it is prolonged that the non-practice of physical activity increases by 230% the chances of referring a disability associated to the disease compared to those people who referred to practice minimal or above minimal physical activity; the presence of a cardiological and/or metabolic history is related to an increase of about 150% to 180% of presenting disability compared to patients who do not have these pathologies. Conclusion: This study shows clinical and epidemiological features of phlebolymphedema and their relationship with the level of physical activity and reported disability of 90 patients. Further studies are needed to improve and broaden the understanding of the clinical characteristics of phlebolymphedema and its correlations.
Introduction: Secondary lymphedema is defined as a chronic-progressive disease that causes rich protein edema of the limbs, this may be caused due to the damage or obstruction of lymphatic structures; complications associated with loxosceles spider bite may cause damage to the lymphatic system. Objective: To describe the clinical case of a patient with lower extremity lymphedema secondary to loxosceles' spider bite complications and to present a literature review on the topic. Case Presentation: A 24-year-old man received previous medical attention between 2020-and 2021 due to complications of a loxosceles brown spider bite. He arrived at our facilities in January 2022 to assess his case related to progressive volume leg increase and a chronic wound in the bitten site. After the clinical history analysis, physical examination, and a near-infrared lymphography study of the leg, damage to lymphatic structures was identified; secondary lymphedema was confirmed. It was possible to reverse and control the lymphedema volume and the wound evolved to complete closure. The case is presented along with a literature review on the topic. Conclusion: It is presented a case of lymphedema associated with a loxosceles brown spider bite, and successfully treated. Lymphedema related to a loxosceles spider bite and its complications is a clinical reality that might be underrecognized by scientific literature and clinicians; this condition should be properly studied and considered with adequate assessment strategies in patients after suffering the spider bite in extremities, especially in the mid and long-term.
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