Five‐Animal Frolics Exercise Improves Anxiety and Depression Outcomes in Patients with Coronary Heart Disease: A Single‐Blind Randomized Controlled Trial

Introduction. The patients with coronary heart disease (CHD) always have emotional implications. As the branch of traditional Chinese medicine, Five‐Animal Frolics Exercise (FAE) is a popular mind‐body exercise in China and shown to improve emotional wellbeing. Aim. We aimed to explore the effects of FAE on the emotional disorders of CHD patients. Methods. CHD patients were assigned into an experiment group (EG, FAE) and a control group (CG, routine nursing care). We measured serum levels of miR‐124 and miR‐135 and scores of the Hamilton Depression/Anxiety scale (HAMD/HAMA), Self‐Rating Anxiety Scale (SAS), the Self‐Rating Depression Scale (SDS), Short Form 36 Health Survey Questionnaire (SF‐36), and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). Results. After a 3‐month FAE intervention, serum levels of miR‐124 and miR‐135 and the scores of HAMD/HAMA, SAS, SDS, and PSQI in the EG group were lower than those in the CG group, while SF‐36 scores in the EG group were higher than those in the CG group (p < 0.05). Serum levels of miR‐124 and miR‐135 had a strong relationship with SAS and SDS scores (p < 0.05). Discussion/Implications for Practice. The study suggests that FAE intervention controls anxiety and depression outcomes and improves life quality in CHD patients by affecting serum levels of miR‐124 and miR‐135.