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Keith L, Seo C, Wahi MM, Huggins S, Carmody M, Faerber G, Forner-Cordero I, Michelini S, Rapprich S, Rockson SG. Proposed Framework for Research Case Definitions of Lipedema. Lymphat Res Biol 2024; 22:93-105. [PMID: 38546398 PMCID: PMC11044873 DOI: 10.1089/lrb.2023.0062] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/19/2024] Open
Abstract
Background: Our aim is to propose a framework for the development of a research case definition of lipedema, based on current available literature and those observations that can be applied to future lipedema research with the intent to standardize and strengthen the scientific evidence base. Methods and Results: We conducted a narrative review of the literature, and identified consensus characteristics and disputed characteristics that could be included in a research case definition of lipedema. After considering the strength of the evidence and how each characteristic might be measured in a research study, we recommended an approach for the development of a research case definition of lipedema that would be based on consideration of five agreed-upon characteristics, and five disputed, or less substantiated, characteristics as additional evidence to enhance specificity. Conclusions: We present a case definition framework for lipedema drawn from the scientific literature that can be applied to future studies on lipedema. Utilizing this framework should help to increase the sensitivity and specificity of case definition and provide an opportunity for meta-analysis of clinical studies and facilitate future research intercomparisons.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leslyn Keith
- Lipedema Project, Inc., Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Catherine Seo
- Lipedema Project, Inc., Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Lipedema Simplified, LLC, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | | | - Siobhan Huggins
- Lipedema Project, Inc., Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Lipedema Simplified, LLC, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Matthew Carmody
- Lipedema Simplified, LLC, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | | | | | | | | | - Stanley G. Rockson
- Stanford Center for Lymphatic and Venous Disorders, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California, USA
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Kirstein F, Hamatschek M, Knors H, Aitzetmueller-Klietz ML, Aitzetmueller-Klietz M, Wiebringhaus P, Varnava C, Hirsch T, Kueckelhaus M. Patient-Reported Outcomes of Liposuction for Lipedema Treatment. Healthcare (Basel) 2023; 11:2020. [PMID: 37510461 PMCID: PMC10379396 DOI: 10.3390/healthcare11142020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2023] [Revised: 07/02/2023] [Accepted: 07/08/2023] [Indexed: 07/30/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Lipedema, as a disabling and consequential disease, is gaining more awareness due to its potential omnipresence. Patients suffering from lipedema show a characteristic painful display of symmetric accumulations of adipose tissue. The combination of swelling, pain and decreased quality of life (QOL) is outstanding for the diagnosis. The aim of this study was to identify the effect of liposuction in terms of the QOL for patients and underline important factors of current and pending research regarding surgical therapy of lipoedema. METHODS Patients suffering from lipedema prior to and after receiving liposuction at our hospital were included in this study. Patients completed a lipedema-specific self-designed 50 item questionnaire: the World Health Organization Quality of Life BREF (WHOQOL-BREF) and the Patient Health Questionnaire 9 (PHQ-9). A linear mixed model was used for outcome analysis. RESULTS In total, 511 patients completed a questionnaire prior to the surgery at primary presentation to the hospital and a total number of 56 patients completed a questionnaire after liposuction. A total of 34 of these patients filled in both questionnaires prior to and after surgery. The general characteristics of the disease, such as daily symptoms and psychological health, pertinently improved after surgery. CONCLUSIONS Liposuction can have a general improving effect on the QOL of patients, both in private and professional life. Liposuction may currently be the most evident and promising method in the treatment of lipedema.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fiona Kirstein
- Department of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery, Hand Surgery, Fachklinik Hornheide, 48157 Muenster, Germany
- Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Institute of Musculoskeletal Medicine, Westfalian Wilhelms-University, 48149 Muenster, Germany
| | - Matthias Hamatschek
- Department of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery, Hand Surgery, Fachklinik Hornheide, 48157 Muenster, Germany
- Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Institute of Musculoskeletal Medicine, Westfalian Wilhelms-University, 48149 Muenster, Germany
| | - Henning Knors
- Department of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery, Hand Surgery, Fachklinik Hornheide, 48157 Muenster, Germany
- Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Institute of Musculoskeletal Medicine, Westfalian Wilhelms-University, 48149 Muenster, Germany
- Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Department of Trauma, Hand and Reconstructive Surgery, University Hospital Muenster, 48149 Muenster, Germany
| | - Marie-Luise Aitzetmueller-Klietz
- Department of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery, Hand Surgery, Fachklinik Hornheide, 48157 Muenster, Germany
- Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Institute of Musculoskeletal Medicine, Westfalian Wilhelms-University, 48149 Muenster, Germany
- Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Department of Trauma, Hand and Reconstructive Surgery, University Hospital Muenster, 48149 Muenster, Germany
| | - Matthias Aitzetmueller-Klietz
- Department of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery, Hand Surgery, Fachklinik Hornheide, 48157 Muenster, Germany
- Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Institute of Musculoskeletal Medicine, Westfalian Wilhelms-University, 48149 Muenster, Germany
- Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Department of Trauma, Hand and Reconstructive Surgery, University Hospital Muenster, 48149 Muenster, Germany
| | - Philipp Wiebringhaus
- Department of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery, Hand Surgery, Fachklinik Hornheide, 48157 Muenster, Germany
- Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Institute of Musculoskeletal Medicine, Westfalian Wilhelms-University, 48149 Muenster, Germany
- Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Department of Trauma, Hand and Reconstructive Surgery, University Hospital Muenster, 48149 Muenster, Germany
| | - Charalampos Varnava
- Department of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery, Hand Surgery, Fachklinik Hornheide, 48157 Muenster, Germany
- Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Institute of Musculoskeletal Medicine, Westfalian Wilhelms-University, 48149 Muenster, Germany
- Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Department of Trauma, Hand and Reconstructive Surgery, University Hospital Muenster, 48149 Muenster, Germany
| | - Tobias Hirsch
- Department of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery, Hand Surgery, Fachklinik Hornheide, 48157 Muenster, Germany
- Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Institute of Musculoskeletal Medicine, Westfalian Wilhelms-University, 48149 Muenster, Germany
- Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Department of Trauma, Hand and Reconstructive Surgery, University Hospital Muenster, 48149 Muenster, Germany
| | - Maximilian Kueckelhaus
- Department of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery, Hand Surgery, Fachklinik Hornheide, 48157 Muenster, Germany
- Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Institute of Musculoskeletal Medicine, Westfalian Wilhelms-University, 48149 Muenster, Germany
- Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Department of Trauma, Hand and Reconstructive Surgery, University Hospital Muenster, 48149 Muenster, Germany
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Falck J, Rolander B, Nygårdh A, Jonasson LL, Mårtensson J. Women with lipoedema: a national survey on their health, health-related quality of life, and sense of coherence. BMC Womens Health 2022; 22:457. [PMCID: PMC9673372 DOI: 10.1186/s12905-022-02022-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/19/2022] [Accepted: 10/25/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Lipoedema is a chronic disease in adipose tissue that almost exclusively affects women during periods of hormonal alterations. Its main symptoms include an abnormal accumulation of subcutaneous fat in the buttock, hips, and legs, which is associated with pain, swelling, and easy bruising. Herein, a grading in three stages is used to determine disease progression. Problematically, lipoedema manifestations are often confused with lifestyle-induced obesity, which is why the various health problems among affected women often remain unrecognized. Overall, research on lipoedema is scarce. As such, this study examined the health, health-related quality of life (HRQOL), and sense of coherence (SOC) among women with lipoedema. Methods We conducted a national cross-sectional study using an online survey assessing sociodemographic data, lipoedema characteristics, symptom severity, comorbidities, HRQOL (RAND-36), and SOC (SOC-13). In total, 245 women with lipoedema, recruited from all Lipoedema Association groups in Sweden, participated. Data were compiled with descriptive statistics, and mean differences between groups were analysed by using parametric and non-parametric tests. Results Moderate and severe leg heaviness, pain, numbness, cold skin, feeling cold, easy bruising, and sleep problems were found to occur in all lipoedema stages. Moreover, almost all participants reported having comorbidities. Worse physical health and most substantial limitations in daily life were reported among women with the most progressive lipoedema (i.e., stage 3). Social and emotional functioning and SOC were found to be, on the other hand, primarily related to respondents’ sociodemographic data and their ages at lipoedema onset. Even though approximately 70% of the women had experienced lipoedema onset before age 30, only three (1.6%) had been diagnosed by a healthcare professional before that age. Conclusion Having lipoedema is associated with several health problems and a lower HRQOL. In addition, the extent of delay in diagnosis within this sample indicates that many women with lipoedema are often underdiagnosed and are left without support from healthcare. These findings call for the need for greater attention on lipoedema. Moreover, further studies on how women with lipoedema manage their health and symptoms, as well as on their experiences of healthcare services and lipoedema treatments, are needed. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12905-022-02022-3.
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Affiliation(s)
- Johanna Falck
- grid.118888.00000 0004 0414 7587Department of Nursing Science, School of Health and Welfare, Jönköping University, Jönköping, Sweden
| | - Bo Rolander
- grid.451698.7Futurum, Academy for Health and Care, Jönköping County Council, Jönköping, Sweden ,grid.118888.00000 0004 0414 7587Department of Social Work, School of Health and Welfare, Jönköping University, Jönköping, Sweden
| | - Annette Nygårdh
- grid.118888.00000 0004 0414 7587Department of Nursing Science, School of Health and Welfare, Jönköping University, Jönköping, Sweden
| | - Lise-Lotte Jonasson
- grid.118888.00000 0004 0414 7587Department of Nursing Science, School of Health and Welfare, Jönköping University, Jönköping, Sweden
| | - Jan Mårtensson
- grid.118888.00000 0004 0414 7587Department of Nursing Science, School of Health and Welfare, Jönköping University, Jönköping, Sweden
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Dudek JE, Białaszek W, Gabriel M. Quality of life, its factors, and sociodemographic characteristics of Polish women with lipedema. BMC Womens Health 2021; 21:27. [PMID: 33446179 PMCID: PMC7809838 DOI: 10.1186/s12905-021-01174-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2020] [Accepted: 01/07/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Lipedema is a type of subcutaneous adipose tissue disorder that affects mainly women. Its main symptom is bilateral fat accumulation on the extremities with associated pain in the affected areas. Despite growing interest in lipedema among patients and medical health professionals, lipedema is still often misdiagnosed, misunderstood, and mistreated. To promote better understanding of lipedema, we aimed to investigate factors related to the quality of life and describe selected sociodemographic and clinical characteristics of women with lipedema in Poland. METHODS We conducted a cross-sectional online survey that was completed by 98 women with lipedema. The participants responded to questionnaires regarding quality of life, sociodemographic and clinical characteristics, and depression symptom severity. RESULTS The participants reported low quality of life and high severity of depressive symptoms. The more severe the symptoms related to pain, heaviness, and swelling, the lower the quality of life. Further analyses showed that depression severity mediated this relationship. CONCLUSIONS The current study provides initial information on screening questions, lipedema symptoms, and comorbidities, pointing to the areas needing in-depth investigation. Further steps to improve quality of life in women with lipedema and to reduce health costs should include the education of medical health professionals, using diagnostic tools that allow for differentiation among diagnoses and precise health risk assessment, and creating Polish treatment guidelines for lipedema.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joanna E Dudek
- SWPS University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Institute of Cognitive and Behavioral Neuroscience, Chodakowska St. 19/31, 03-815, Warsaw, Poland.
| | - Wojciech Białaszek
- SWPS University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Institute of Cognitive and Behavioral Neuroscience, Chodakowska St. 19/31, 03-815, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Marcin Gabriel
- University of Medical Sciences, Department of Vascular and Endovascular Surgery, Angiology and Phlebology, Poznań, Poland
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