title: Factors Associated with Reported Infection and Lymphedema Symptoms among Individuals with Extremity Lymphedema.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study aimed to examine factors associated with reported infection and symptoms among individuals with extremity lymphedema.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross-sectional study was used.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data were collected from a survey supported by the National Lymphedema Network from March 2006 through January 2010. A total of 1837 participants reported having extremity lymphedema. Logistic regression analyses were used.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Factors associated with reported infection among individuals with extremity lymphedema included male gender, decreased annual household income, decreased self-care, self-report of heaviness, and lower extremity as opposed to upper extremity. Factors associated with symptoms included infection, decreased self-care, lower knowledge level of self-care, decreased annual household income, and presence of secondary lower extremity lymphedema.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Select factors of income, self-care status, and site of lymphedema were associated with increased occurrence of infection and symptoms among individuals with extremity lymphedema. Longitudinal studies are needed to identify risk factors contributing to infections and symptoms in individuals with lymphedema.
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA.
authors.forename: Jie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Deng
authors.affiliation: College of Nursing, New York University, New York, NY, USA.
authors.forename: Mei R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Fu
authors.affiliation: Sinclair School of Nursing, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, USA.
authors.forename: Jane M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Armer
authors.affiliation: UT MD Anderson Cancer Center, The University of Texas, Houston, TX, USA.
authors.forename: Janice N
authors.initials: JN
authors.lastname: Cormier
authors.affiliation: Department of Family Studies & Social Work, Miami University, Oxford, OH, USA.
authors.forename: M Elise
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Radina
authors.affiliation: National Lymphedema Network, San Francisco, CA, USA.
authors.forename: Saskia R J
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Thiadens
authors.affiliation: Cox Health Outpatient Rehabilitation, Springfield, MO, USA.
authors.forename: Jan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Weiss
authors.affiliation: Bariatric and Metabolic Weight Loss Center, Stony Brook Medicine, Stony Brook, NY, USA.
authors.forename: Catherine M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Tuppo
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA.
authors.forename: Mary S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Dietrich
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA.
authors.forename: Sheila H
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Ridner
mesh_terms: D015331:Cohort Studies; D015897:Comorbidity; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007239:Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D035002:Lower Extremity / Q000382:microbiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D008209:Lymphedema / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000451:nursing / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D008297:Male; D019145:Rehabilitation Nursing / Q000379:methods*; D012307:Risk Factors; D012648:Self Care / Q000379:methods*; D012737:Sex Factors; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D034941:Upper Extremity / Q000382:microbiology / Q000503:physiopathology
keywords: Long-term care; evidence-based practice; infection; lymphedema; nurses; symptom