Is there any relationship between tropics and lymphedema?

Yes : There are tropical filarial diseases that can cause permanent lymphatic damage and result in a condition such as elephantiasis, a form of severe lymphedema.

Filariasis: In tropics, filariasis is the most common cause of lymphedema. Filariasis is the direct infestation of lymph nodes by the parasite wuchereria bancrofti. The disease is spread among persons by mosquitoes, and affects millions of people in the tropics and sub-tropics of asia, africa, western pacific, and parts of central and south america. Infestation by the parasite damages the lymph system.