{
  "abstract": "Background: Lymphedema, a chronic condition caused by impaired lymphatic drainage, can significantly affect patients' quality of life. While its impact on sleep quality is recognized, the association between lymphedema and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) remains underexplored. This study investigated whether individuals with lower-limb lymphedema (LLL) are at a higher risk of OSA compared to those with upper-limb lymphedema (ULL) and healthy controls.\n\nMaterials and Methods: This cross-sectional study included 91 participants: 32 with ULL, 29 with LLL, and 30 healthy controls. Lymphedema was diagnosed based on excess volume (EV) and EV percentage (EVP) using standardized circumference measurements and the cylinder formula. Sleep quality and OSA risk were assessed using validated questionnaires: the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), the 12-Item Short-Form Health Survey, version 2.0 (SF-12v2), the Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS), and the Snoring, Tiredness, Observed Apnea, High Blood Pressure, Body Mass Index, Age, Neck Circumference, and Gender (STOP-BANG) Questionnaire (SBQ).\n\nResults: Participants with LLL exhibited significantly higher SBQ ( p = 0.022) and ESS ( p = 0.044) scores compared to those with ULL, indicating an elevated risk of OSA and daytime sleepiness. Furthermore, LLL patients had significantly lower physical ( p = 0.020) and mental ( p = 0.009) component scores on the SF-12v2, reflecting poorer health-related quality of life. Although PSQI scores were higher in the LLL group, the difference was not statistically significant. Regression analysis showed a significant association between EV and PSQI scores in the LLL group (adjusted p = 0.029), highlighting the impact of lymphedema severity on sleep quality.\n\nConclusions: In this study, LLL was associated with a higher risk of OSA and greater sleep disturbances compared to ULL and controls.",
  "abstract_shown": true,
  "affiliations": [
    "Integrative Oncology Research Group, Motamed Cancer Institute, Tehran Iran",
    "Faculty of Medicine, University of Central Lancashire, Preston, Lancashire United Kingdom",
    "Student Research Committee, Shahed University Faculty of Medical Sciences, Tehran Iran",
    "Department of Quality of Life, Motamed Cancer Institute, Tehran Iran",
    "Student Research Committee, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran Iran",
    "Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran Iran",
    "Department of Advanced Therapy Medicinal Products (ATMPs), Motamed Cancer Institute, Tehran Iran",
    "Breast Cancer Research Center, Motamed Cancer Institute, Tehran Iran",
    "Academic Center for Education, Culture, and Research (ACECR), Health Metrics Research Center, Tehran Iran"
  ],
  "article_type": "research article",
  "arxiv": null,
  "author_total": 9,
  "authors": [
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Hossein Yarmohammadi",
      "orcid": "0000-0001-8316-9511"
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    {
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        1
      ],
      "name": "Sam Ashtiani",
      "orcid": "0009-0009-6304-4581"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        2
      ],
      "name": "Sina Shahshenas",
      "orcid": "0009-0008-5377-2991"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0,
        3
      ],
      "name": "Masood Soltanipur",
      "orcid": "0000-0001-9590-2776"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        4
      ],
      "name": "Amirhossein Bahanesteh"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        5
      ],
      "name": "Hamidreza Mirabi"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        6,
        7
      ],
      "name": "Fereshteh Abbasvandi"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        8
      ],
      "name": "Ali Montazeri",
      "orcid": "0000-0002-5198-9539"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0,
        3
      ],
      "name": "Zahra Sheikhi",
      "orcid": "0000-0002-5670-1012"
    }
  ],
  "bibtex": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/aa9spkrc4eksk.bib",
  "cited_by": 0,
  "doi": "10.1055/s-0046-1819596",
  "fulltext_url": "https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13730673/?tool=EBI",
  "id": "aa9spkrc4eksk",
  "issns": [
    "1984-0659",
    "1984-0063"
  ],
  "landing_url": "https://europepmc.org/article/PMC/PMC13730673",
  "language": "eng",
  "licence": "CC-BY",
  "licence_label": "CC BY",
  "licence_source": "article",
  "licence_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/",
  "metadata_licence": null,
  "native_subjects": [
    [
      "heading",
      "Original Article"
    ],
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      "openalex",
      "2737|Obstructive Sleep Apnea Research"
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  "openalex": "W7225179487",
  "pdf_url": "https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13730673/pdf/?tool=EBI",
  "pmcid": "PMC13730673",
  "pmid": "42979634",
  "published": "2026-09-01",
  "publisher": "Brazilian Association of Sleep and Latin American Federation of Sleep",
  "ris": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/aa9spkrc4eksk.ris",
  "sources": [
    {
      "first_seen": "2026-11-04T15:20:47Z",
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  "subjects": [
    {
      "field": "medicine",
      "origin": "openalex:2737|Obstructive Sleep Apnea Research",
      "subfield": "physiology"
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  ],
  "title": "Is There a Higher Risk of Obstructive Sleep Apnea among Individuals with Lower-Limb Compared to Those with Upper-Limb Lymphedema?",
  "title_text": "Is There a Higher Risk of Obstructive Sleep Apnea among Individuals with Lower-Limb Compared to Those with Upper-Limb Lymphedema?",
  "type": "peer-reviewed",
  "updated_at": "2026-11-07T12:23:11Z",
  "url": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/aa9spkrc4eksk",
  "venue": "Sleep science (Sao Paulo, Brazil)",
  "versions": []
}