THE EFFECT OF EXERCISE TRAINING ON AEROBIC FITNESS, IMMUNE INDEXES, AND QUALITY-OF-LIFE IN HIV+ PATIENTS

Purpose: Thirty four HIV+ patients participated in a 6-wk aerobic exer cise training program to determine whether exercise improved aerobic f itness, immune indices, and quality of life. Methods: Subjects were as signed to three groups: control (no regular aerobic exercise), moderat e exercise, and heavy exercise training. At study entry and exit (in e ach subject) we evaluated aerobic function with a symptom limited card iopulmonary exercise test, immune indices with CD4 counts and Candida skin tests, viral replication with plasma HIV RNA measurements, and qu ality of life with a HIV+ population validated questionnaire. Results: Aerobic fitness increased significantly in both exercise groups relat ive to the control group; immune indices changed very little among all three groups; however, the Candida skin tests (mm(2)) increased signi ficantly in the moderate group; viral replication was essentially unch anged in all three groups; quality of life (QOL) markers improved in b oth exercising groups but not the control group. There were no opportu nistic infections during the study. Conclusions: Exercise training res ulted in a substantial improvement in aerobic function while immune in dices were essentially unchanged. Quality of life markers improved sig nificantly with exercise. Exercise training is safe and effective in t his patient group and should be promoted for HIV+ patients.