Health Implications of Lipedema: Analysis of Patient Questionnaires and Population-Based Matched Controls

Abstract

We conducted a comparative study involving 39 female patients with lipedema and group-matched controls at a ratio of 1:5. The primary survey tool was the German Health Update (GEDA 2019/2020-EHIS) questionnaire, which was developed by the Robert Koch Institute (RKI), Germany. The secondary survey tool was the German Pain Questionnaire. The prevalence of hypertension (p = 0.041) and high blood lipids (p = 0.024) was lower in the lipedema group compared to the control group. General health and well-being indicators demonstrated lower overall health ratings (p p = 0.016). Mental health assessment revealed higher depression prevalence and severity (p = 0.001), together with a lower number of close contacts (p = 0.032). Furthermore, patients with lipedema experienced higher levels of pain (p p p p = 0.010). In summary, our findings highlight significant differences in health and well-being between patients with lipedema and matched controls, especially in overall, metabolic, and mental health, as well as pain perception. The findings emphasize the need for a validated lipedema-specific questionnaire and a multidisciplinary treatment approach with a combination of physical therapies, lifestyle adjustments, and psychological strategies.

Keywords

• lipedema
• obesity
• questionnaire
• pain
• depression