Physical disability and psychosocial impact due to chronic filarial lymphoedema in Sri Lanka

Filaria Journal

Table 1 Profile of patients

Variable	Number (n = 413)	Percent
Age (years)
≤ 35	56	13.6
35.1–50	131	31.7
50.1–65	168	40.7
> 65	58	14.0
Sex
Male	114	27.6
Female	299	72.4
Marital status
Married	353	85.5
Single	60	14.5
Educational level
No schooling	16	3.9
Grades 1–5	68	16.5
Grades 6–11	271	65.6
A' level	43	10.4
Tertiary education	15	3.6
Monthly Income (Rs)^α
< 5,000	63	39.6
5,001 – 10,000	56	35.2
10,001 – 20,000	29	18.2
> 20,001	11	6.9
Occupation
Professional, technical and related workers	14	3.4
Administrative and Managerial workers	3	0.7
Clerical and related workers	7	1.7
Sales workers	55	13.3
Service workers	30	7.3
Agricultural, animal husbandry, forestry, fishermen and hunters	6	1.5
Production, transport equipment operators and labourers	48	11.6
Armed forces personnel	4	0.9
Workers not reporting any occupation	49	11.9
Students	5	1.2
Housewives	192	46.5
Site of lymphoedema^β
Right lower limb	210	50.8
Left lower limb	245	59.3
Right upper limb	20	4.8
Left upper limb	17	4.1
Lymphoedema Grade^β
Grade I	170	41.2
Grade II	205	49.6
Grade III	92	22.3
Grade IV	25	6.1
Duration of lymphoedema (years)
≤ 1	42	10.2
1–5	115	27.8
≥ 5	256	62.0

^α There were 167 employed in paid jobs but only 159 of them reported their earned income.
^β 81 patients had lymphoedema of more than one limb