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Factors Associated With Health-related Quality of Life in Patients With Breast Cancer-Related Lymphedema Undergoing Prospective Surveillance

Completed
Conditions
Breast Cancer Related Lymphedema
Registration Number
NCT07165275
Lead Sponsor
Samsung Medical Center
Brief Summary

Breast cancer-related lymphedema (BCRL) is a chronic condition that affects more than 1 in 5 breast cancer survivors. It causes swelling, pain, and reduced arm function, which can significantly impact quality of life. This study aims to evaluate how breast cancer survivors perceive their swelling, and whether this perception aligns with actual physical measurements. The investigation will examine how this perception gap relates to quality of life. The findings may help inform the development of more personalized care strategies to support both the physical and emotional well-being of women living with BCRL.

Detailed Description

This study focuses on identifying factors that influence health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in women with breast cancer-related lymphedema (BCRL). Prior studies have shown that the subjective burden of swelling and psychological responses may affect HRQoL more than objective clinical severity. However, the role of perception-objective congruence-whether participants' awareness of swelling matches actual physical measurements-has not been well explored. The investigators will analyze the impact of this perception gap on functional and emotional outcomes. Participants will be grouped based on whether their perception of swelling aligns with objective limb volume measurements. HRQoL differences across these subgroups will be assessed using validated instruments. The goal is to provide evidence that will inform strategies to promote accurate symptom awareness, effective self-management, and better quality of life in BCRL survivors.

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
COMPLETED
Sex
Female
Target Recruitment
203
Inclusion Criteria
  • Patients diagnosed with unilateral upper limb lymphedema related to breast cancer
  • Patients who have completed the Lymphedema Quality of Life Questionnaire (LYMQOL)
Exclusion Criteria
  • malignant lymphedema
  • history of palliative chemotherapy

Study & Design

Study Type
OBSERVATIONAL
Study Design
Not specified
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Lymphedema Quality of Life Questionnaire (LYMQOL-Arm)baseline

Health Related Quality of Life(HRQoL) was assessed using the Lymphedema Quality of Life Questionnaire(LYMQOL), which comprises four domains: function (three items), appearance (five items), symptoms (six items), and mood (six items), scored on a 4-point Likert scale (1-4; higher scores indicate greater impairment). The domain scores were calculated as the average of the scores for all items within each domain. The LYMQOL also includes a single overall QoL item, which is scored on a scale from 0 (poor) to 10 (excellent)

Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
1. Agebaseline

Demographic data

All anonymized clinical data were extracted from medical records in the Clinical Data Warehouse.

2. Sexbaseline

All anonymized clinical data were extracted from medical records in the Clinical Data Warehouse.

3. Body Mass Index (BMI)baseline

Demographic data Weight and height will be combined to report BMI (kg/m2)

All anonymized clinical data were extracted from medical records in the Clinical Data Warehouse.

4. Place of residencebaseline

Demographic data

(1) Metropolitan area, (2) Non- metropolitan area

All anonymized clinical data were extracted from medical records in the Clinical Data Warehouse.

5. Careersbaseline

Demographic data Careers: Yes/No

All anonymized clinical data were extracted from medical records in the Clinical Data Warehouse.

6. Marital statusbaseline

Demographic data (0) Unmarried (Single/Widowed/Divorced), (1) Married

All anonymized clinical data were extracted from medical records in the Clinical Data Warehouse.

7. Number of comorbiditiesbaseline

Demographic data

All anonymized clinical data were extracted from medical records in the Clinical Data Warehouse.

1. Time since breast cancer surgerybaseline

data regarding cancer surgery and treatment

1\. Time since breast cancer surgery : years

All anonymized clinical data were extracted from medical records in the Clinical Data Warehouse.

2. Breact cancer stagebaseline

data regarding cancer surgery and treatment Breact cancer stage : AJCC stage

All anonymized clinical data were extracted from medical records in the Clinical Data Warehouse.

3. Chemotherapybaseline

data regarding cancer surgery and treatment 3. Chemotherapy : Yes/No

All anonymized clinical data were extracted from medical records in the Clinical Data Warehouse.

4. Radiotherapybaseline

data regarding cancer surgery and treatment 4. Radiotherapy : Yes/No

All anonymized clinical data were extracted from medical records in the Clinical Data Warehouse.

5. Hormone therapybaseline

data regarding cancer surgery and treatment 5. Hormone therapy : Yes/No

All anonymized clinical data were extracted from medical records in the Clinical Data Warehouse.

1. Time since lymphedema diagnosisbaseline

Lymphedema factors (medical records)

1\. Time since lymphedema diagnosis : years

All anonymized clinical data were extracted from medical records in the Clinical Data Warehouse.

2. Lymphedema in dominant handbaseline

Lymphedema factors (medical records) 2. Lymphedema in dominant hand : Yes/No

All anonymized clinical data were extracted from medical records in the Clinical Data Warehouse.

3. Lymphedema locationbaseline

Lymphedema factors (medical records) 3. Lymphedema location : Localized/Whole-arm

All anonymized clinical data were extracted from medical records in the Clinical Data Warehouse.

4. Complex Decongestive therapybaseline

Lymphedema factors (medical records) 4. Complex Decongestive therapy : Yes/No

All anonymized clinical data were extracted from medical records in the Clinical Data Warehouse.

5. perometerbaseline

Lymphedema factors (medical records) 5. Limb volume was measured by perometer (Perometer®, Pero-System, Germany) : A perometer is a medical device used to measure limb volume accurately and non-invasively. It employs infrared light beams or optoelectronic sensors to scan the circumference of an extremity, such as an arm or leg, and calculates the overall volume based on these measurements. This tool is commonly used to assess swelling in conditions like lymphedema and to monitor changes over time.

All anonymized clinical data were extracted from medical records in the Clinical Data Warehouse.

1. Physical activity levelbaseline

Lymphedema factors (patient-reported)

1\. Physical activity level : Patient self-reported physical activity level categorized as limited in activities of daily living, not limited in activities of daily living, or able to participate in sports.

Data collected through questions asked during clinical visits. All anonymized clinical data were extracted from medical records in the Clinical Data Warehouse.

2. Lymphedema factors (patient-reported)baseline

Lymphedema factors (patient-reported) 2. Self-care adherence : Patient self-reported adherence to wearing compression stockings categorized as not wearing, wearing occasionally, or wearing regularly (including non-prescribed use).

Data collected through questions asked during clinical visits. All anonymized clinical data were extracted from medical records in the Clinical Data Warehouse.

3. Subjective swelling severitybaseline

Lymphedema factors (patient-reported) 3. Subjective swelling severity : Patient-rated swelling severity of the right/left arm on a numeric rating scale from 0 to 10, where 0 indicates no swelling and 10 indicates extremely severe swelling. Higher scores indicate worse

Data collected via a survey asking, "How much do you think your right/left arm is swollen?".

All anonymized clinical data were extracted from medical records in the Clinical Data Warehouse.

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Samsung Medical Center

🇰🇷

Seoul, Republic of Korea, South Korea

Samsung Medical Center
🇰🇷Seoul, Republic of Korea, South Korea

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