title: Musculoskeletal complaints in cardiac rehabilitation: Prevalence and impact on cardiovascular risk factor profile and functional and psychosocial status.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess the prevalence of musculoskeletal complaints and their association with risk factor profile and functional and psychosocial status in patients on a cardiac rehabilitation program.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this cross-sectional study of 449 patients admitted within three months of an acute coronary syndrome, patients were divided into those with (MSC+) and those without (MSC-) musculoskeletal complaints. The Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale and the Short Form 36 Health Survey were used to assess psychosocial status and quality of life, and the International Physical Activity Questionnaire for physical activity. Functional capacity was estimated from exercise testing.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Musculoskeletal pain was present in 119 patients (27%), mainly in the lower limbs (56%). MSC+ were older (mean 56.5±9.9 vs. 53.2±9.5 years; p<0.001) and more frequently women (20.2% vs. 9.1%; p<0.001). MSC+ had a higher prevalence of dyslipidemia (68.6% vs. 51.2%; p<0.001), hypertension (51.7% vs. 35.5%; p<0.001), obesity (29.4% vs. 17.9%; p<0.001) and metabolic syndrome (44.5% vs. 31.5%; p<0.001). MSC+ showed higher body mass index and waist circumference, and lower physical activity levels (p<0.05), as well as lower functional capacity (8.6±2.2 vs. 9.6±2.1 MET; p<0.05), higher scores for depression (6 [3-9] vs. 3 [1-7]; p<0.05) and anxiety (7 [3-10] vs. 5 [2-8]; p<0.05), and lower scores for physical (44.1±8.7 vs. 47.6±7.6; p<0.05) and mental (39.2±13.0 vs. 44.0±13.0; p<0.05) quality of life.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Musculoskeletal complaints are common in cardiac rehabilitation and predict lower levels of physical activity, worse cardiovascular risk factor profile, and poorer functional capacity and psychosocial status, irrespective of age and gender.
authors: Centro Hospitalar São João, Porto, Portugal. Electronic address: afonsomrocha@gmail.com.
authors: José Afonso
authors: JA
authors: Rocha
authors: Department of Internal Medicine, Cardiovascular Diseases, Mayo Clinic, USA.
authors: Thomas G
authors: TG
authors: Allison
authors: Department of Physical, Rehabilitation Medicine, Centro Hospitalar São João, Porto, Portugal.
authors: José Miguel
authors: JM
authors: Santoalha
authors: Department of Cardiology, Centro Hospitalar São João, Porto, Portugal.
authors: Vítor
authors: V
authors: Araújo
authors: Department of Physical, Rehabilitation Medicine, Centro Hospitalar São João, Porto, Portugal.
authors: Fernando Parada
authors: FP
authors: Pereira
authors: Department of Cardiology, Centro Hospitalar São João, Porto, Portugal.
authors: Maria Júlia
authors: MJ
authors: Maciel
mesh_terms: D054058:Acute Coronary Syndrome / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D000072038:Cardiac Rehabilitation; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009140:Musculoskeletal Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors
keywords: Atividade física; Coronary disease; Doença coronária; Dor músculo-esquelética; Musculoskeletal pain; Physical activity