Evaluation of Lymphedema Patients Status During Covid-19 Pandemic
Evaluation of Lymphedema Patients Status During Covid-19 Pandemic
The pandemic, which started in China at the end of 2019, appeared in our country in a short
 time. Most hospitals and physicians were only concerned with the treatment of these patients.
 One of the most victimized patient groups in this duration was lymphedema patients who were
 in need of continuous follow-up and rehabilitation at necessary periods, but were also at
 risk in terms of covid-19 infection and could not go to hospitals unless necessary. The
 treatment of both primary and secondary lymphedema patients has been interrupted or delayed.
 This process has affected the health status, treatment processes and quality of life of the
 lymphedema patient group. The current situation may have caused them anxiety and depression
 as a result of infection fear. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the treatment processes,
 health status, coronavirus phobia, anxiety, and depression states of the lymphedema patients
 .
60 primary and secondary lymphedema male and female patients with stage I,II,III lymphedema
 older than 18 years old over who were followed up in the lymphedema outpatient clinic of the
 Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Clinic were included in the study.They were called by
 phone. Permission was asked for questioning from the patients reached. A hundred lymphedema
 patients were called and 60 patients were reached or agreed to be interviewed. The questions
 on the form and scales were read clearly to the patients who accepted the interview and were
 asked to be answered by the patient. The health status of the admitted patients during the
 covid-19 pandemic period and the treatment processes were questioned with the form we
 prepared.These forms were included socio-demographic features, physical, and detailed medical
 histories.Edema staging was evaluated by the International Society of Lymphology (ISL)
 lymphedema staging classification.This information was filled in from patients' files. The
 pandemic process was evaluated in the other part of the form. Working status, mobilization
 during the pandemic process, whether he/she or his/her relative was diagnosed with
 coronavirus infection, whether he/she received suplemental treatment, how much he/she paid
 attention to hand-foot hygine, whether his/her swelling increased, whether he/she had a
 cellulite attack, whether he/she regular self-manual lymphatic drainage and/or exercise, It
 was questioned whether there was an increase in a different symptom other than swelling,
 eating habits and weight gain, most recently whether he used pressure stocking regularly.In
 addition, the fear because of the covid-19 virus was questioned with the coronavirus-19
 phobia scale (CP19-S), quality of life with lymphedema quality of life arm / leg (LYMQOL),
 and anxiety and depression with the hospital anxiety and depression scale (HADS).
Inclusion Criteria:

 -  Primary or secondary lymphedema patients with stage I,II,II stage

 -  Aged over 18 years old

 -  Upper or lower extremity lymphedema

 Exclusion Criteria:

 -  Patients under the age of 18

 -  Patients who do not accept phone calls.