Obesity As A Risk Factor For Lymphedema In Breast Cancer Patients After Modified Radical Mastectomy

Abstract

Backgrounds: Surgical therapy with the Modified Radical Mastectomy technique is the primary choice in
treating breast cancer, but some complications may arise, such as lymphedema. Lymphedema causes
permanent loss of function of body parts, such as decreased range of motion that impacts the quality of
life. Postoperative obesity is a significant risk factor for the development of lymphedema.
Aim: to determine the relationship of obesity to the incidence of post-MRM lymphedema.
Methods: An analytical study using a case-control study design in breast cancer patients who had
undergone MRM surgery and were hospitalized and controlled at the Oncology Surgery Polyclinic of
Sanglah Hospital Denpasar from January 2020 to July 2020. The bivariate test uses chi-square and the
multivariate analysis uses Poiston regression. The p-value of 0.05 was considered significant.
Results: Obesity was associated with the incidence of post-MRM lymphedema (OR: 36.529; 95%
Confidence Interval 4.5 to 295.95; p-value <0.0001), a history of inflammation in the ipsilateral arm also
had a significant relationship (OR: 3.8; 95% CI 1.2 to 11.98; p-value = 0.023. In multivariate analysis, it was
found that obesity was the risk factor that most influenced the occurrence of lymphadenopathy (AOR: 6.3;
95% CI -1.392 to -0.170; p-value = 0.012), but a history of inflammation in the ipsilateral arm was not a
risk factor (AOR: 1.16; 95% CI -0.921 to 0.268; p value=0.282).
Conclusion: Obesity is a risk factor for lymphedema in breast cancer patients after Modified Radical
Mastectomy surgery.