Reproducibility of the nordic musculoskeletal questionnaire in cardiac patients undergoing cardiovascular rehabilitation

INTRODUCTION: Cardiovascular diseases are the leading cause of global mortality, while musculoskeletal comorbidities contribute to increased disability. Characterizing musculoskeletal limitations in cardiac patients undergoing cardiovascular rehabilitation is crucial for ensuring treatment continuity. OBJECTIVE: To characterize musculoskeletal symptoms and assess the reproducibility of the Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire (NMQ) in cardiac patients undergoing different phases of cardiovascular rehabilitation. METHODS: This cross-sectional study enrolled 100 patients from five cardiovascular rehabilitation centers (situated across the western, northern, and southern state regions) who responded remotely to sociodemographic questionnaires for sample characterization and to the NMQ on two separate occasions to verify its reproducibility according to COSMIN guidelines. RESULTS: Of the 100 participants, 53% were women, the mean age was 64.8 years, and the mean BMI was in the overweight range. Most participants were from the western region of São Paulo State (66%).The NMQ demonstrated high reproducibility, with Kappa coefficients ranging from 0.78 to 0.98 and a high Cronbach's alpha. Results were particularly significant in the knee and lumbar regions, highlighting the need for intervention strategies targeting this population. CONCLUSION: The NMQ shows excellent reproducibility for assessing musculoskeletal sysymptoms in patients across different phases of cardiovascular rehabilitationand is a reliable tool for monitoring these symptoms.