Abstract
Objective To investigate the prevalence and risk factors of axillary web syndrome (AWS) in Korean patients. Methods This retrospective study included a total of 189 women who underwent breast cancer surgery and received physical therapy between September 2019 and August 2020. We analyzed AWS and the correlation between the patients' demographics, underlying disease, type of surgery and chemotherapy or radiation therapy, and lymphedema. Results The prevalence of AWS was found to be 30.6%. In the univariable analysis, age, chemotherapy, and hypertension were related to AWS. Finally, the multivariable logistic regression revealed that chemotherapy (odds ratio [OR]=2.84; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.46-5.53) and HTN (OR=2.72; 95% CI, 1.18-6.30) were the strongest risk factors of AWS. Conclusion To the best of our knowledge, this was the first study that explored the risk factors of AWS in a Korean population after breast cancer surgery. As almost one-third of patients suffer from AWS after breast cancer surgery, it is essential to closely monitor the development of AWS in patients with hypertension or undergoing chemotherapy.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 401-409 |
| Number of pages | 9 |
| Journal | Annals of Rehabilitation Medicine |
| Volume | 45 |
| Issue number | 5 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - 2021 |
Bibliographical note
Publisher Copyright:© 2021 Korean Academy of Rehabilitation Medicine. All Rights Reserved.
Keywords
- Axillary web syndrome
- Breast neoplasms
- Prevalence
- Risk factors
- Surgery
