In Brazil, the incidence of lymphedema is poorly known, and there is little scientific documentation reporting the association of lymphedema with the social and economic factors in our region. The objective was to analyze the impact of socioeconomic markers on the severity of lymphedema of the lower extremities according to the classification of Mowlem in the metropolitan region of Salvador (BA), Brazil. Of the 324 patients studied, 200 (62%) were female. The age ranged between 14 and 69 years, median 48 years. Comparatively analyzing the varying severity of lymphedema versus education level and severity versus family income, it showed that 93.8% of patients classified as Mowlem III were included in the group of patients without education and/or with income up to three minimum wages. There was no record of advanced disease in patients with family incomes greater than seven minimum wages and/or graduate.
lymphedema; classification; severity of illness index; educational status
