Quality of life in patients undergoing to surgical treatment of lymphedema. Linguistic validation and transcultural adaptation of Lymphedema Quality of Life Score (LeQOLiS)

Abstract

Background: Lymphedema is a chronic, progressive and debilitating disease with a significant impact on patients’ quality life. Multiple instruments and questionnaires have been carried out focused in results of the surgical treatment of lymphedema and their impact in quality of life, from the perspective of patients. One recently published, “Lymphedema Quality of Life Score (LeQOLiS), is a simple method to use in clinical practice, with an excellent physiopathological correlation of the disease.

Aim: Linguistic validation and transcultural adaptation of Lymphedema Quality of Life Score, published in English originally.

Materials and Method: The linguistic validation guidelines of the MAPI/TRUST Research institute were used and the survey was applied to six patients. Descriptive and analytical statistics were used. Results: Six female patients surveyed, mean age 49 ± 17 years and the mean body mass index was 27 ± 5 kg/m2. All the patients had a decrease in the total score in the postoperative period.

Conclusions: The Lymphedema Quality of Life Score is a valid, reliable and reproducible instrument to objectively assess the impact of the surgical treatment of lymphedema in the quality of life.