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Updated: Jan 26, 2026
A Murine Tail Lymphedema Model
Published on: February 10, 2021
LIMPRINT: The UK Experience-Subjective Control of Swelling in Patients Attending Specialist Lymphedema Services
Christine J Moffatt1,2,3, Vaughan Keeley4, Andrew Hughes5
11 School of Social Sciences, Nottingham Trent University, Nottingham, United Kingdom.
Insights
Chronic edema (CO) affects many, with poor control linked to factors like obesity and age. Management in specialized centers is complex due to patient comorbidities and sociodemographic factors.
Area of Science:
- Medical Research
- Public Health
- Clinical Epidemiology
Background:
- Chronic edema (CO) presents a significant challenge in healthcare.
- Understanding the prevalence and factors influencing CO control is crucial for effective management.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the prevalence of chronic edema in the UK.
- To identify factors affecting the control of arm and leg chronic edema.
- To assess the impact of chronic edema on health services.
Main Methods:
- Recruitment of 7436 individuals with CO in the UK LIMPRINT study.
- Analysis of 1565 patients, excluding those with no swelling, concurrent arm/leg CO, or missing control data.
- Statistical analysis to identify risk factors for poor edema control.
Main Results:
- Leg edema (81.5%) was more prevalent than arm edema (18.5%).
- Poor control was observed in 27.2% of patients.
- Independent risk factors for arm CO included obesity, neurological disease, and recent cellulitis; for leg CO, they included obesity, poor mobility, heart disease, wounds, recent cellulitis, and swelling duration.
Conclusions:
- Edema control worsens with age over 45, particularly in men with arm swelling.
- Leg edema control deteriorates with increasing age and comorbidities.
- Sociodemographic factors and clinical comorbidities complicate edema management in specialized centers.
Abstract:
This study was undertaken as part of the UK LIMPRINT international study to determine the number of people with chronic edema (CO) and its impact on health services. Overall 7436 with CO were recruited in the main UK study from a range of health settings. Factors relating to subjective control of arm and leg CO were defined in the UK. A total of 1565 patients were included in the study with exclusions for: no limb swelling or not recorded (1669), having concurrent arm/leg CO (272), control of assessment missing (5) and professional being unsure of control status of CO (325). Arm swelling occurred in 953 (18.5%) with leg CO in 4212 (81.5%). Poor control was found in 1430 (27.2%) and good control in 3735 (72.3%). Control of arm swelling was worse in men and control increased overall in those aged over 45 years. In contrast control of CO worsened in those with leg CO with increasing age and multiple co-morbidities. Obesity and cellulitis, particularly an episode in the last year were associated with poor control. Independent risk factors for arm CO were : obesity, neurological disease and cellulitis in the last year and for leg CO, obesity, poor mobility, heart disease, presence of a wound, cellulitis in the last year and duration of swelling. Control of CO within specialized centers is complex due to sociodemographic and clinical comorbidities.
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