Objective Assessment of the Cardiorespiratory Fitness Among Individuals With Lymphedema and Lipedema: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Abstract

Background: One of the main challenges in managing lymphedema and lipedema is the lack of valid and reliable objective measures for diagnosis and follow-up. This study was aimed at gathering evidence regarding the objective measures of cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) among these populations. Methods: Scopus, PubMed, and Embase were searched for observational studies investigating the objective measures of CRF among individuals with lipedema and lymphedema. Both primary and secondary lymphedema were included. Different CRF measures reported by the included articles were determined, and the main outcomes regarding these measurements were extracted. The meta-analysis was performed to compare the pooled mean 6-min walk test (6MWT) between individuals with lower limb lymphedema and lipedema using STATA software (Version 17.0). Results: Eight articles were included, and the majority of participants were female. Four distinct objective measures of CRF were reported among the included articles, including hemodynamic indices, spirometry indices, VO₂ peak, and 6MWT. The mean VO₂ peak was significantly lower among women with breast cancer-related lymphedema; however, there was no correlation between affected limb volumes and the VO₂ peak. The meta-analysis revealed a lower mean 6MWT among individuals with lipedema compared to lymphedema (pooled difference: 37.71 [confidence interval (CI): 5.19-70.22], p value: 0.02, I ²: 0%). Also, there was a significant relationship between 6MWT and subjective measures of CRF, such as the Short Form 36 (SF-36) physical function score, in one included article. Conclusion: While limited evidence exists on the objective measures of CRF among individuals with lymphedema and lipedema, there might be a significant difference in 6MWT between these two groups.