Table 1 Demographic characteristics of total group and according to presence of clinician-determined BCRL
Characteristic | Total group (N = 40) | Lymphoedema present (N = 12) | No current swelling (N = 28) |
|---|---|---|---|
Age, years (median, LQ, UQ) | 62 (55, 66) | 62 (55, 68) | 63 (55, 66) |
Ethnicity, N (%) | |||
White British/White Other | 35 (88) | 9 (75) | 26 (93) |
Black and minority ethnic | 5 (13) | 3 (25) | 2 (7) |
Employment, N (%) | |||
Professional/managerial | 10 (25) | 3 (25) | 7 (25) |
Clerical/service/administration | 7 (18) | 3 (25) | 4 (14) |
Skilled trade | 2 (5) | 1 (8) | 1 (4) |
Manual | 1 (3) | 0 | 1 (4) |
Homemaker | 2 (5) | 0 | 2 (7) |
Retired | 16 (40) | 5 (42) | 11 (39) |
Unemployed | 1 (3) | 0 | 1 (4) |
Missing | 1 (3) | 0 | 1 (4) |
BMI (median, LQ, UQ) | 26.05 (23.27, 27.95) | 25.57 (24.16, 27.95) | 26.50 (21.94, 28.22) |
BMI, N (%) | |||
Normal (18.5–24.9) | 15 (38) | 4 (33) | 11 (39) |
Overweight (25–29.9) | 18 (45) | 7 (58) | 11 (39) |
Obese (≥30) | 7 (18) | 1 (8) | 6 (21) |
Time since surgery, months (median, LQ, UQ) | 121 (110, 148) | 130 (109, 152) | 120 (112, 133) |
Ipsilateral breast surgery, N (%) | |||
Wide local excision | 19 (46) | 6 (50) | 14 (50) |
Mastectomy | 12 (10) | 2 (17) | 8 (29) |
Mastectomy + reconstruction | 9 (17) | 4 (33) | 6 (21) |
Contralateral surgery, N (%) | |||
Wide local excision | 2 (5) | 1 (8) | 1 (4) |
Mastectomy | 2 (5) | 0 | 2 (7) |
Axillary surgery, N (%) | |||
Sentinel node biopsy/Sampling | 4 (10) | 0 | 4 (14) |
Axillary lymph node dissection | 36 (90) | 12 (100) | 24 (86) |
Radiotherapy, N (%) | |||
Breast only | 25 (63) | 7 (58) | 18 (64) |
Breast and supra clavicular fossa | 3 (8) | 2 (17) | 1 (4) |
Breast and axilla | 4 (10) | 1 (8) | 3 (11) |
Breast, SCF and axilla | 1 (3) | 1 (8) | 0 |
None | 7 (18) | 1 (8) | 6 (21) |
Dominant side treated N (%) | |||
Yes | 14 (37) | 6 (50) | 8 (29) |
Both sides | 5 (12) | 1 (8) | 4 (14) |
No | 21 (51) | 5 (42) | 16 (57) |
Chemotherapy, N (%) | 25 (63) | 9 (75) | 16 (57) |
Hormone treatment, N (%) | 30 (76) | 6 (50) | 8 (29) |
Cellulitis, N (%) | 9 (22) | 3 (25) | 6 (21) |
Patient reported onset of oedema, months after 1st axillary surgery (median, LQ, UQ) | 7 (2, 12) | 8 (6, 23) | 5.5 (1.23, 12) |
Patient reported onset of swelling, N (%) | |||
<3 months | 8 (20) | 2 (18) | 6 (21) |
3–6 months | 2 (5) | 1 (8) | 1 (4) |
>6 months | 13 (33) | 8 (67) | 6 (21) |
Cannot remember | 1 (3) | 1 (8) | 0 |
Never developed lymphoedema | 15 (38) | 0 | 15 (54) |
Reported trigger, N (%) | 17 (43) | 8 (67) | 9 (32) |
Received lymphoedema treatment, N (%) | 20 (50) | 11 (92) | 9 (32) |
Duration of swelling, months (median, LQ, UQ)* | 102.5 (9.9, 129) | 118 (96, 134) | 54 (10.5, 108) |