Examination of the relationship between upper limb function, posture and quality of life in patients with and without lymphedema after breast cancer surgery

Abstract

The aim of this study was to compare the upper limb function, posture and quality of life between women with and without lymphedema after breast cancer-related surgery and to investigate whether there is a relationship between them. Methods: The study included 27 women with upper limb lymphedema and 29 women without lymphedema, aged between 18 and 70 years and undergone unilateral breast cancer-related surgery. Minnesota Manual Dexterity Test was used to evaluate upper limb function, New York Posture Rating Chart for posture and European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Core QoL Questionnaire for quality of life. Results: Women with lymphedema had lower posture, upper limb function and quality of life scores than those without lymphedema (p <0.05). In addition, a moderate positive correlation was found between posture and quality of life general health status in both groups (r=0.516, p=0.007, with lymphedema; r=0.486, p=0.008, without lymphedema). However, there was no correlation between upper limb function to posture and quality of life (p> 0.05). Conclusions: This study demonstrated that women with lymphedema after breast cancer surgery had worse posture, upper limb function and quality of life than those without lymphedema. In addition, it was found that posture disorder was associated with poorer quality of life, but upper limb function was not associated with quality of life and posture.