ABSTRACT
Lymphatic filariasis puts billions of people around the world at risk. Despite this, little is known about the impact of chronic disease morbidity, such as lymphedema. The complex decongestant therapy is a gold standard for treating lymphedemas, but there are no viable protocols for implementation in developing countries. The objective of this clinical trial was to evaluate the efficacy of this technique with the use of alternative material and compare its effects on quality of life, functionality and body weight. The intervention and control groups were evaluated using perimetry and limb volume calculation, the Whoqol-bref quality of life questionnaire, the Functional and Mobility test of the lower limbs Timed Up and Go, and body weight assessment. The intervention group received the complex decongestant therapy twice a week for ten weeks, using an alternative material for the bandaging, made with cambric tissue, which presents low cost in relation to the imported bands. The control group received a lecture with information about the disease and care and hygiene guidelines of the members. The sample consisted of thirty patients with a mean age of 50.8 ± 10 years, 52.9% of whom were women. In the statistical analysis, Student's t test, Multivariate analysis of variance, Wilcoxon test and Kolmogorov-Smirnov test were used. The significance was 5% (p<0.05). There was a significant reduction in lymphedema volume and perimetry in the intervention group, and increased in the control group. The functionality did not show significant improvement in the evaluation by the Timed Up and Go test. The quality of life had significant improvement in the physical and environmental domains in the intervention group. The effect of treatment on body weight was also significant, presenting reduction in the control group and intergroups. Complex decongestant therapy was effective in reducing and controlling lymphedema and positively impacted, increasing the numerical values of the physical and environmental aspects of the quality of life of the intervention group.
Keywords:
Filariasis; Lymphatic Filariasis; Lymphedema; Quality of Life; Morbidity; Physiotherapy
