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The effect of lipedema on health-related quality of life and psychological status: a narrative review of the literature

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Abstract

Purpose

The aim of this narrative review of the literature was to evaluate and summarize the current literature regarding the effect of lipedema on health-related quality of life (HRQOL) and psychological status.

Methods

The authors collected articles through a search into Medline, Embase, Scopus, Web of Science, Physiotherapy Evidence Database (PEDro), and the Cochrane Review. Search terms used included “Lipoedema,” “Lipedema,” “psychological status,” “Quality of life,” “Health related quality of life,” and “HRQOL.”

Results

A total of four observational studies were evaluated. The included studies were moderate-quality according to the Newcastle–Ottawa Scale. Three of the included studies demonstrated deterioration of HRQOL and psychological status in patients with lipedema. These studies also identify that pain and tenderness are a more common and dominant characteristic.

Conclusion

Future studies should establish a specific approach to treat and manage lipedema symptoms. Based on this narrative review of the literature findings, we recommended for the health care provider to pay more attention to HRQOL and psychological status. Moreover, validated and adapted measures of HRQOL and psychological status for patients with lipedema are required.

Level of evidence

Level V, narrative review.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Applied Medical-Surgical Sciences, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Via Montpellier 1, 00133, Rome, Italy

    Nuha Alwardat

  2. Section of Clinical Nutrition and Nutrigenomic, Department of Biomedicine and Prevention, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Via Montpellier 1, 00136, Rome, Italy

    Nuha Alwardat, Laura Di Renzo, Paola Gualtieri, Petronilla Nocerino & Antonino De Lorenzo

  3. Department of Systems Medicine, University of Roma “Tor Vergata”, Rome, Italy

    Mohammad Alwardat

  4. Neuroscience PhD School, University of Rome “Tor Vergata”, Rome, Italy

    Mohammad Alwardat

  5. Specialization School of Food Science, University of Roma “Tor Vergata”, Rome, Italy

    Lorenzo Romano, Gemma Lou De Santis & Elena Carrano

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  1. Nuha Alwardat
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Alwardat, N., Di Renzo, L., Alwardat, M. et al. The effect of lipedema on health-related quality of life and psychological status: a narrative review of the literature. Eat Weight Disord 25, 851–856 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40519-019-00703-x

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