Predicting physical activity and cardiovascular risk and quality of life in adults with osteoarthritis at risk for metabolic syndrome: A test of the information-motivation-behavioral skills model.

The sample came from one university hospital outpatient clinic in South Korea and was selected by convenience sampling, so it may not represent other settings. The study was cross-sectional, so it cannot show that changes in physical activity, self-efficacy, mood or social support caused changes in cardiovascular risk or quality of life. Physical activity, social support, depressive symptoms, self-efficacy and quality of life were mostly self-reported, which may introduce response bias. The sample was 90.9% women and mean age 72.44 years, and 78.8% had hypertension, so results may not apply to younger, male or less comorbid patients. People with major depressive disorder were excluded, so findings may not apply to patients with diagnosed depression.

No conflict of interest was declared by the authors. The named funder was Ajou University.

Do not conclude that an exercise programme will reduce cardiovascular risk or improve quality of life in adults with osteoarthritis. This paper tested associations in a cross-sectional survey, and quality of life was directly linked to social support and depressive symptoms rather than physical activity.