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Table 6 Explanatory variables for cellulitis related to the severity of lymphoedema of the arm, a sub-group analysis (n = 460)

From: Factors associated with cellulitis in lymphoedema of the arm – an international cross-sectional study (LIMPRINT)

 

No cellulitis

N (%)

Cellulitis

N (%)

OR 95%CI

P-value

Pitting (n = 459)

   

 Non pitting

232 (58.44)

29 (46.77)

1.00

 

 Pitting

165 (41.56)

33 (53.23)

1.60 (0.93, 2.74)

0.085

Tissue quality (n = 459)

   

 Soft

314 (79.09)

42 (67.74)

1.00

 

 Hard (fibrotic)

83 (20.91)

20 (32.26)

1.80 (1.00, 3.23)

0.046

Stemmer’s sign (n = 458)

   

 Negative

217 (54.80)

18 (29.03)

1.00

 

 Positive

179 (45.20)

44 (70.97)

2.96 (1.65, 5.31)

< 0.001

ISL scale* (n = 460)

    

 Stage I

139 (34.92)

5 (8.06)

1.00

 

 Stage II

240 (60.30)

50 (80.65)

5.79 (2.26, 14.87)

< 0.001

 Stage III

19 (4.77)

7 (11.29)

10.24 (2.95, 35.53)

 

ISL scale* after adjustment for lymphoedema duration and control by logistic regression (n = 326)

 Stage I

  

1.00

 

 Stage II

  

5.44 (1.59, 18.60)

0.002

 Stage III

  

9.13 (1.99, 41.84)

 
  1. *ISL scale = International Society of Lymphology scale (assessment of severity of chronic edema/lymphedema). ISL stage I: Early onset of the condition, with an accumulation of tissue edema that decreases with limb elevation. The edema may be pitting at this stage. ISL stage II: Limb elevation alone rarely reduces swelling and pitting is manifested. ISL stage III: The tissue is fibrotic and pitting is absent. Skin changes such as thickening, hyperpigmentation, increased skin folds, fat deposits, and warty overgrowths develop