Leisure-Time Physical Activity Impact on Quality of Life, Anxiety, Depression, and Clinical Intensity of Pemphigus Vulgaris

 Currently, physical activity serves as a preventive approach to reduce the side effects of medical conditions and mental disorders, as well as to enhance public health.

 This study aims to explore the impact of physical activities on depression, anxiety, quality of life (QoL), and the severity of clinical symptoms in patients with pemphigus vulgaris (PV).

 This study was conducted as an experimental investigation on patients with PV who were referred to Razi Hospital in Tehran. A total of 76 patients were selected as the statistical sample and were randomly divided into 2 equal groups: an intervention group and a control group. The intervention involved engaging in recreational walking in a park for 60 minutes every other day, for three sessions a week, over a period of 8 weeks.

 The intervention group showed improved QoL compared to the control group after 8 weeks (P-value = 0.045, 5.2 ± 2.97 vs. 7.5 ± 6.45); (P-value = 0.066, 4.97 ± 1.89 vs. 6.1 ± 4). Additionally, there was a noticeable reduction in anxiety levels in the intervention group compared to the control group after 8 weeks (6.92 ± 4.7 vs. 9.31 ± 4.97, P-value = 0.03). However, there was no significant difference in depression and the severity of symptoms between the 2 groups over the two-month period (4.6 ± 6.03 vs. 4.3 ± 7.78, P-value = 0.067). Nonetheless, significant improvements in anxiety were observed in the intervention group.