Using wearable technology to objectively investigate physical behaviour and determine health outcomes of a physical activity intervention in patients with psoriasis

Background Sedentary behaviour has a detrimental effect on health independent of the amount of physical activity undertaken. Despite the association of cardiometabolic and psychosocial comorbidities with psoriasis, how physical behaviour influences health outcomes in patients with psoriasis is poorly understood. Objectives We hypothesized that objective measurement of physical behaviour, using wearable digital technology, would have utility in understanding the clinical impact of an exercise intervention designed in partnership with patients with psoriasis. Methods Fourteen patients with psoriasis completed a 20‐week study. During weeks 1–10, participants followed an incrementally progressive, exercise intervention, followed by independent activities during weeks 11–20. Accelerometers (GENEActiv Original) and pedometers recorded physical behaviour. Evaluation at week‐0, ‐10, and ‐20 included assessment of psoriasis, cardiometabolic disease/risk, psychological health and functional capacity. Results Our intervention supported significantly increased physical activity, including moderate–vigorous physical activity (p = 0.04) and step count (p = 0.04). We also observed a significant association between physical activity and psoriasis area and severity index (PASI)‐50 response (p = 0.01) and psychosocial functioning (p = 0.029) together with a significant negative correlation between step count and psoriasis severity (p = 0.012). We observed no change in total waking hour sedentary behaviour. Conclusion Objective measurement of physical behaviour, using wearable digital technologies, offers a mechanism to further understand the clinical impact of lifestyle behaviour interventions. Crucially, despite increased levels of physical activity, we observed no change in total waking hour sedentary time. Further investigation is required to establish how modification of physical behaviour could offer an adjuvant management strategy for patients with psoriasis.