Lipoedema in Australia - Patient Survey

This survey is conducted by Lipoedema Surgical Solution and is designed to gauge the impact of lipoedema on Australian women.  Initial findings will be presented in August 2022 to Hon. Yvette Dath, Queensland Minister for Health and Ambulance, and data collection will continue for 12 months.

All data shared with third parties will be de-identified and will be presented as a group of statistics and impacts.  We have included optional questions for you to include your name and email address - please complete this section if you consent to us contacting you directly about this research, follow-up research, or future research.

Please participate by answering the following questions, however first some background.

Lipoedema is a progressive inflammatory painful disorder where the legs and often the arms are disproportionate in size causing reduced mobility. The lipoedema often leads to the acceleration of comorbidities. The fat cannot be exercised or dieted away and medications and weight loss surgery are ineffective. It affects upward of 11% of females and has hormonal triggers usually starting in puberty and often worsening with pregnancy and menopause. There is a strong genetic link with up to 60% of family members affected. The disease is poorly recognised by GPs and specialists and is often misdiagnosed as obesity and lymphoedema. The diagnosis is clinical and there are no tests to confirm the condition. Women often suffer anxiety and depression attributed to the lipoedema. Early diagnosis is important for patients to commence conservative management in the form of manual lymphatic drainage, compression garments and a lipoedema friendly diet. Appropriate surgery stops progression and reverses the impact of the disease. In Australia currently there is no recognition of the condition called lipoedema. Early diagnosis leads to early appropriate intervention.

One in four people have a hole in the heart with an abnormal shunt between the right venous circulation and left side of the arterial circulation. When significant in size a PFO can lead to brain fog, exercise intolerance and migraine with aura. Micro strokes associated with PFO are often diagnosed on MRI. Serious complications of a large hole in the heart are stroke and death often associated with deep vein thrombosis, childbirth, fractures, deep sea diving and surgery especially on the limbs. The detection of a large shunt is straightforward with transcranial doppler or an echo bubble study. The closure of these holes is a safe procedure that takes under 30 minutes, performed as day surgery in some parts of the world, including Australia. When a significant PFO is closed, symptoms of brain fog exercise intolerance and migraine with aura disappear and the stroke risk  associated with a significant hole in the heart is eliminated. In Australia there is currently no Medicare funding for the closure of a significant PFO unless there are features of stroke.