Table 4.
Previous studies reporting on the association of BMI and/or weight gain with lymphedema development vary in sample size, follow-up time, lymphedema assessment method, the use of pre-operative lymphedema assessment, lymphedema incidence, and findings.
| Author, Year | Sample Size | Follow-Up (mo) | LE assessment method | Pre-op LE assessment | LE incidence (%) | BMI (kg/m2) | Weight Gain |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ridner, 201123 | 138 | Max: 30 | Perometry (≥200ml or ≥10% difference) & symptoms | Yes | 19.6 | ≥30 | No |
| Ahmed, 20118 | 1287 | Mean: 97 | Self-report via questionnaire | No | 8 | ≥30 | N/A |
| Kwan, 201024 | 997 | Mean: 20.9 | Electronic medical record review | N/A | 13.3 | ≥30 | N/A |
| Goldberg, 201015 | 600 | Median : 60 | Circumferential measurement (>2cm difference) | Yes | 5 | 32 | No |
| Norman, 201011 | 631 | Max: 60 | Self-report via questionnaire | No | 37.7 | ≥30 | N/A |
| Helyer, 201025 | 137 | Median : 20 | Water displacement (≥200ml difference) & symptoms | Yes | 11.7 | > 30 | N/A |
| Swenson, 200926 | 188 | Median : 46 | Circumferential measurement (>2cm difference) & symptoms | No | N/A | ≥25 | N/A |
| Meeske, 200913 | 494 | Mean: 50 | Self-report via interview | No | 24 | ≥30 | N/A |
| Cormier, 200922 | 269 | Median : 29 | Perometry (≥5% change)& symptoms | Yes (for 159 patients) | 61.3 | No | Yes |
| McLaughlin, 20087 | 936 | Median : 60 | Circumferential measurement (>2cm difference) | Yes | 9 | 29 | No |
| Vignes, 200727 | 807 | N/A | Circumferential measurement | No | N/A | 27.1 | N/A |
| Clark, 200529 | 188 | 36 | Circumferential measurement (≥20% difference or ≥5% change from baseline) | Yes | 20.7 | ≥26 | N/A |
| Petrek, 200130 | 263 | 240 | Circumferential self-measurement (>1.27cm or ≤1.27cm difference with symptoms) | No | 49 | No | Yes |
| Werner, 199131 | 282 | Median : 37 | Circumferential self-measurement (≥2.5cm difference) | No | 19.5 | ≥27.3 | N/A |
LE lymphedema, BMI body mass index