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Reduction of Lymphedema Secondary to Breast Cancer

Not Applicable
Completed
Conditions
Lymphedema
Interventions
Other: Specific supervised exercise and weight loss program
Registration Number
NCT04974268
Lead Sponsor
Fundación Pública Andaluza para la Investigación de Málaga en Biomedicina y Salud
Brief Summary

This study evaluates the reduction of lymphedema and its complications in obese women treated with a muscle training and weight loss program as well as the improvement body composition, muscle strength, quality of life and neurocognitive function, compared to a conventional treatment control group.

Detailed Description

Introduction: Breast cancer is the most frequent tumour in women. Breast cancer-related lymphedema (BCRL) occurs in 10 to 36% of patients undergoing dissection and emptying of axillary nodes and between 5 and 17% undergoing sentinel node biopsy. BCRL is associated with discomfort, pain, risk of infections, disability, symptoms of depression and anxiety and worse quality of life. The prevalence of persistent lymphedema increases with the presence of obesity.

Aim: In overweight or obese women with BCRL to assess whether a muscle training and weight loss program reduces lymphedema volume and its associated complications, as well as improves body composition, muscle strength, quality of life and neurocognitive function, compared to a conventional treatment control group.

Methodology: Open prospective randomized trial of 2 parallel arms. Subjects: patients referred to the Rehabilitation Unit with lymphedema secondary to breast cancer and overweight or obesity. The control group will receive the usual treatment and general dietary recommendations and the intervention group will carry out a program of supervised exercise (strength and aerobic) and weight loss (based on the Mediterranean diet and with a meal replacement). The change in volume in the limb affected by lymphedema, segmental body composition and phase angle (impedance measurement), muscular strength (hand dynamometry), level of physical activity (IPAQ), dietary parameters, quality of life (FACB+4) will be assessed. Cognitive function (Memory FSRCT test), psychological symptoms (anxiety and depression by means of HADS) NS biochemical parameters (albumin, prealbumin, lipids, CRP, 25-OH vitamin D and insulin) will be analyzed.

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
COMPLETED
Sex
Female
Target Recruitment
100
Inclusion Criteria
  • Patients older than 18 years and under 80 who have lymphedema diagnosed according to the truncated cone formula (increase of > 200 ml with respect to the contralateral) and are referred to Rehabilitation for treatment.
  • Having completed the chemotherapy and radiotherapy treatment at least 6 months prior to randomization.
  • Not having received manual lymphatic drainage in the 2 months prior to the intervention.
  • BMI > 25 y < 40 kg/m2.
  • Signature of informed consent.
Exclusion Criteria
  • Traumatological, neurological, rheumatological or cardiovascular problems that prevent patients from performing the training.
  • Phase IIIB structured lymphedema
  • Metastatic disease.
  • Illness that prevents the subject from carrying out the program.
  • Unstable heart disease
  • Ejection fraction of the left ventricle higher than 35.
  • Voluntary or involuntary weight loss > 10% in the last 3 months.
  • Illiterate.
  • Those who do not sign the informed consent to participate in the study.
  • Abusive intake of alcohol or other dependencies that in the opinion of the investigator could interfere with the study.

Study & Design

Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Study Design
PARALLEL
Arm && Interventions
GroupInterventionDescription
Exercise and nutritional programSpecific supervised exercise and weight loss programIntervention group that receives supervised exercise and weight loss program based on individual and group intervention with Mediterranean diet and substitute for a daily meal (non-mandatory), manual lymphatic drainage and compression garment if there is more than 600 ml of excess volume in the limb affected.
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
To assess the change in volume in the limb affected by lymphedema in the intervention group vs control.Baseline, 3rd and 6th month visits

It will be studied whether a reduction of 200 ml of the affected arm is achieved with respect to itself and / or with respect to the healthy one, after training.

Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
BMI (body mass index) changesBaseline, 3rd and 6th month visits

Measured by body composition analysis

Change in weightBaseline, 3rd and 6th month visits

Weight in kg

Change in water on arm affected by lymphedemaBaseline, 3rd and 6th month visits

Water in ml

Level of physical activity (IPAQ questionnaire)Baseline, 3rd and 6th month visits

Assess whether the level of physical activity improves after training and motivation sessions.

Changes in insuline resistanceBaseline, 3rd and 6th month visits

Measured aas HOMA-IR (homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance)

Change in total fat massBaseline, 3rd and 6th month visits

Total fat mass in kg

Change in serum prealbumin concentrationBaseline, 3rd and 6th month visits

Serum prealbumin in mg/dl

Change in TG concentrationBaseline, 3rd and 6th month visits

Serum TG in mg/dl

Change in fat free body massBaseline, 3rd and 6th month visits

Fat free body mass in kg assessed by bioelectrical impedance analysis

Change in water on arm not affected by lymphedemaBaseline, 3rd and 6th month visits

Water in ml

Change in serum albumin concentrationBaseline, 3rd and 6th month visits

Serum albumin in g/dl

Change in cholesterol concentrationBaseline, 3rd and 6th month visits

Serum cholesterol in mg/dl

Changes in metabolic controlBaseline, 3rd and 6th month visits

Measured as HbA1c (glycated hemoglobin)

Diet compositionBaseline, 3rd and 6th month visits

Adherence to the Predimed Plus diet pattern 17 (0 - minimum adherence, 17 - maximum adherence)

Quality of life (through the FACB + 4 test)Baseline, 3rd and 6th month visits

Assess if it improves after training and at 6 months of follow-up.

Changes in vitamin DBaseline, 3rd and 6th month visits

Serum vitamin D in ng/ml

Peripheral muscle strengthBaseline, 3rd and 6th month visits

Measured by hand and quadriceps dynamometry. Assess if strength improves after training.

Change in LDL concentrationBaseline, 3rd and 6th month visits

Serum LDL in mg/dl

Changes in plasma levels of high sensitivity C reactive protein (hs-CRP)Baseline, 3rd and 6th month visits

Plasma levels of high sensitivity C reactive protein (hs-CRP) in mg/dl

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Hospital Regional Universitario de Málaga

🇪🇸

Málaga, Spain

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