Identification and treatment of chronic oedema and lymphoedema

The incidence of chronic oedema and lymphoedema rise with age. They affect around 4 people per 1,000 in the general population and around 29 people per 1,000 people aged 85 and over.⁴ Around 240,000 people in the UK are thought to have lymphoedema, this may be undiagnosed and untreated.⁵

As our population ages and people with lymphoedema and chronic oedema are living with multiple long-term conditions, rising levels of obesity and increasing frailty, management becomes more complex and challenging.^6,7 Difficulties with diagnosis and complex care needs lead to many people not receiving optimal levels of care.^8,9 Figure 1 shows rising numbers of older people in the UK.¹⁰