Audit to strategy: development of a national children and young people lymphoedema service

Abstract

Lymphoedema in children and young people (CYP) can cause significant impact affecting physical, psychological and social wellbeing. This audit of 286 CYP with Lymphoedema (2015–2018) is the first national cohort reported and provides new information on patient reported outcome (PROM) changes over time. Conservative therapy produced statistically significant change in outcome measures relating to swelling, infection, appearance and compression garments. Almost half of the children had primary lymphoedema of varying types. An overall prevalence of 31 per 100 000 CYP with lymphoedema was found among a population aged 0–25 over a 3-year period. This finding suggests a higher occurrence of lymphoedema in children and young people than previously reported and is important for service planning and health professionals' education.