Aerobic exercise: effects on parameters related to fatigue, dyspnea, weight and body composition in HIV-infected adults

Objectives: The purpose of the study was to examine the effects of aerobic exercise on physiological fatigue (time on treadmill), dyspnea [rate of per ceived exertion (RPE) and forced expiratory volume at 1 s (FEV1)], weight, and body composition in HIV-1-infected adults (200-499 X 10(6) CD4+ cells/l ). Design: The study was a randomized, wait-listed, controlled clinical trial of aerobic exercise in HIV-1-infected adults on signs and symptoms associat ed with HIV-1 infection or its treatment. Methods: Sixty subjects were recruited and randomized to two groups. Experi mental subjects completed a 12-week supervised exercise program. Control su bjects continued usual activity from baseline to week 12 and were then were enrolled in the exercise program. Results: At baseline, the groups were similar in age, weight, body mass ind ex [mean body mass index (BMI) > 27], lime since diagnosis, number of sympt oms, CD4+ cell count, and number on protease inhibitor therapy (n = 7). Des pite disproportionate attrition from the exercise group (38%), exercise sub jects were able to remain on the treadmill longer, lost weight, decreased B MI, subcutaneous fat, and abdominal girth when compared to controls. The im provement in weight and body composition occurred without a decrease in kil ocalories consumed. Exercise did not seem to have an effect on RPE, a surro gate for dyspnea, and FEV1. There was no significant difference in either t he change in CD4+ cell count, percentage or copies of plasma HIV-1 RNA betw een groups. Conclusions: We conclude that supervised aerobic exercise training safely d ecreases fatigue, weight, BMI, subcutaneous fat and abdominal girth (centra l fat) in HIV-1-infected individuals. It did not appear to have an effect o n dyspnea. (C) 2001 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.