Table 3 Risk factors for secondary arm lymphedema (BCRL) – univariate Kaplan-Meier-Analysis and Cox-Regression-Analysis for the subgroup of BCRL

Univariate Kaplan-Meier-Analysis

Category

p-value

95% CI

 Chemotherapy adjuvant

y/n

0.001

7.7–10.2

 pN Stage

N1 vs N2 + N3

0.032

4.2–8.2

 Postoperative complications

y/n

0.046

0.0–11.4

 Age (CP)

CI of the median

0.228

9.6–12.2

 Chemotherapy neoadjuvant

y/n

0.338

8.9–14.1

 pT Stage

T1 vs. T2-T4

0.621

8.9–11.8

 Grading

G1 + G2 vs. G3

0.270

10.4–19.2

 Tumor size (CP)

CI of the median

0.780

9.3–12.2

 Resection volume (CP)

CI of the median

0.510

10.8–18.9

 N° dissected lymph nodes (CP)

CI of the median

0.348

8.2–11.1

 N° positive lymph nodes

1–3 vs. > 3

0.164

6.2–10.6

 Hormonal therapy

y/n

0.889

9.1–11.5

 Radiation SCRT

y/n

0.762

11.5–18.1

 Radiation boost

y/n

0.332

9.8–19.8

 Cardiovascular comorbidity

y/n

0.512

10.2–19.4

 Other comorbidities

y/n

0.927

4.9–12.5

 Tumor recurrence (total)

y/n

0.949

7.2–14.1

Multivariate Cox-Regression-Analysis

Patients with BCRL

p-value

HR; 95% CI

 Chemotherapy adjuvant

58/133 (43.6%)

0.005

2.5; 0.21–0.76

 Postoperative complications

5/9 (55.6%)

0.083

2.3; 0.18–1.11

 pN Stage

16/35 (54.7%)

0.119

1.6; 0.32–1.10