Effects of a Combined Exercise Training Program on Health Indicators and Quality of Life of People Living with HIV: A Randomized Clinical Trial.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of 16 weeks of combined exercise training (CET) on muscle strength, body composition, depression, anxiety and quality of life of people living with HIV (PLHIV). Twenty-three participants completed the study, 14 in trained group (TG) and 9 in control group (CG). TG consisted of resistance and aerobic training three times a week, while the CG was exposed to recreational activities twice a week. CET promoted increased muscle strength (25% in overall strength) and aerobic capacity (+ 20% in training speed and + 23% in VO2 during aerobic training; p < 0.05). In addition, TG had better quality of life and reduced depression rates (from 7 subjects with mild, moderate or severe depression to 1 post-training). In conclusion, this pilot data demonstrated that 16 weeks of CET increased muscle strength, and improved depression and quality of life indexes in a small sample of PLHIV.

Muscle strength is impaired in men but not in women living with HIV taking antiretroviral therapy.

BACKGROUND: There is evidence that HIV antiretroviral therapy adverse effects may be sex-dependent, but data examining these sex differences in muscle strength is scarce. Our aim was to compare dynamic and isokinetic parameters of muscle strength between HIV-infected men and women to HIV-uninfected subjects. METHODS: In this cross-sectional study, muscle strength was evaluated in 44 HIV-infected (20 men, 24 women) and 25 age-, race- and body mass index-matched HIV-uninfected subjects (11 men, 14 women). We assessed knee flexion and extension efforts in isokinetic dynamometer at angular velocities of 60° and 180°/s, and 1 repetition maximum test (1RM) for bench press, leg press and arm curl exercises, respectively. Lean body mass (LBM) was measured using bioelectrical impedance. RESULTS: HIV-infected men had significantly less dynamic muscle strength for 1RM total (262.5 versus 357.2 kg), bench press (48.6 versus 60.3 kg), leg press (182.7 versus 261 kg) and arm curl (31.2 versus 36.5 kg) compared to HIV-uninfected men (P≤0.05); no differences were found among women. Men had lower values for peak torque in extension and flexion movements at 60°/s and 180°/s, while HIV-infected women presented higher peak torque in extension movement at 60°/s compared to controls. No differences were found in LBM. Moreover, isokinetic evaluation demonstrated that HIV-infected subjects showed greater acceleration and deceleration time in some variables, compared to controls, related to difficulty in activating motor units. CONCLUSIONS: HIV infection is associated with impaired dynamic and isokinetic strength in men compared to HIV-uninfected controls, but not in women.

Knee extension and flexion strength asymmetry in Human Immunodeficiency Virus positive subjects: a cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: Human Immunodeficiency Virus positive subjects present impairment in muscle function, neural activation, balance, and gait. In other populations, all of these factors have been associated with muscle strength asymmetry. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the existence of muscle strength asymmetry between dominant and non-dominant lower limbs and to determine the hamstrings-to-quadriceps strength ratio in Human Immunodeficiency Virus positive subjects. METHODS: In this cross-sectional study, 48 subjects were included (22 men and 26 women; mean age 44.6 years), all of them under highly active antiretroviral therapy. They performed isokinetic strength efforts at speeds of 60°/s and 180°/s for knee extension and flexion in concentric-concentric mode. RESULTS: Peak torque was higher (p<0.01) at 60°/s for quadriceps (193, SD=57 vs. 173, SD=55% body mass) and hamstrings (97, SD=36 vs. 90, SD=37% body mass) in dominant compared to non-dominant. Similarly, peak torque was higher at 180°/s (quadriceps 128, SD=44 vs. 112, SD=42; hamstrings 64, SD=24 vs. 57, SD=26% body mass) in dominant. Average power was also higher for all muscle groups and speeds, comparing dominant with non-dominant. The hamstrings-to-quadriceps ratio at 60°/s was 0.50 for dominant and 0.52 for non-dominant, and at 180°/s, it was 0.51 for both limbs, with no significant difference between them. The percentage of subjects with strength asymmetry ranged from 46 to 58%, depending upon muscle group and speed analyzed. CONCLUSION: Human Immunodeficiency Virus positive subjects present muscle strength asymmetry between lower limbs, assessed through isokinetic dynamometry.

Metformin increases HDL3-cholesterol and decreases subcutaneous truncal fat in nondiabetic patients with HIV-associated lipodystrophy.

The purpose of this study was to assess metformin effects on high-density lipoprotein (HDL) composition of patients with HIV-associated lipodystrophy (LDHIV). Twenty-four adult outpatients were enrolled to receive metformin (1700 mg/d) during 6 months, but 2 were lost to follow-up and 6 stopped the drug due to adverse events (gastrointestinal in 5, and excessive weight loss in 1). From the 16 subjects who completed the study, 69% were female. At baseline, 3 and 6 months, we assessed: weight, waist and hip circumferences, blood pressure, fasting glucose and insulin, homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA2-IR), lipids, and HDL subfractions by microultracentrifugation. At 0 and 6 months, body fat distribution was assessed by computed tomography (CT) scan (L4 and middle femur). Metformin use was associated with reduction of mean weight (-2.4Kg at 6 months; p < 0.001), body mass index, waist, waist-to-hip ratio and a marked decrease in blood pressure (p < 0.001). Subcutaneous (p = 0.01) and total abdominal fat (p = 0.002) were reduced, but no change was found in visceral or thigh fat. No difference was detected on plasma glucose, insulin, HOMA2-IR, cholesterol or triglycerides, except for an increase in HDL3-cholesterol (from 21 mg/dL to 24 mg/dL, p = 0.002) and a reduction of nascent HDL (the fraction of plasma HDL-cholesterol not associated to subfractions HDL2 or HDL3) (p = 0.008). Adverse effects were very common, but most were gastrointestinal and mild. Thus, metformin use in LDHIV increases HDL3-cholesterol (probably due to improved maturation of HDL) and decreases blood pressure, weight, waist, and subcutaneous truncal fat, making this an attractive option for preventing cardiovascular disease in this population.

[Prevalence of HIV-associated lipodystrophy in Brazilian outpatients: relation with metabolic syndrome and cardiovascular risk factors]. / Prevalência da lipodistrofia associada ao HIV em pacientes ambulatoriais brasileiros: relação com síndrome metabólica e fatores de risco cardiovascular.

Lipodystrophy in HIV-infected patients (LDHIV) affects 40-50% of HIV-infected patients, but there are no data on its prevalence in Brazil. The aim of this study was to assess the LDHIV prevalence among HIV-infected adult Brazilian individuals, as well as to evaluate LDHIV association with cardiovascular risk factors and the metabolic syndrome (MS). It was included 180 adult HIV-infected outpatients consecutively seen in the Infectology Clinic of Universidade Estadual de Londrina. Anthropometric and clinical data (blood pressure, family and personal comorbidities, duration of HIV infection/AIDS, antiretroviral drugs used, CD4+ cells, viral load, fasting glycemia and plasma lipids) were obtained both from a clinical interview as well as from medical charts. LDHIV was defined as the presence of body changes self-reported by the patients and confirmed by clinical exam. MS was defined using the NCEP-ATPIII criteria, reviewed and modified by AHA/NHLBI. A 55% prevalence of LDHIV was found. Individuals with LDHIV presented a longer infected period since HIV infection, longer AIDS duration and longer use of antiretroviral drugs. In multivariate analysis, women (p=0.006) and AIDS duration >8 years (p<0.001) were independently associated with LDHIV. Concerning MS diagnostic criteria, high blood pressure was found in 32%, low HDL-cholesterol in 68%, hypertriglyceridemia in 55%, altered waist circumference in 17% and altered glycemia and/or diabetes in 23% of individuals. Abnormal waist and hypertriglyceridemia were more common in LDHIV-affected individuals. MS was diagnosed in 36%. In multivariate analysis, the factors associated with MS were: BMI >25 kg/m(2) (p<0.001), family history of obesity (p=0.01), indinavir (p=0.001) and age >40 years on HIV first detection (p=0.002). There was a trend to higher frequency of LDHIV among patients with MS (65% versus 50%, p=0.051). LDHIV prevalence among our patients (55%) was similar to previous reports from other countries. MS prevalence in these HIV-infected individuals seems to be similar to the prevalence reported on Brazilian non-HIV-infected adults.

Prevalência da lipodistrofia associada ao HIV em pacientes ambulatoriais brasileiros: relação com síndrome metabólica e fatores de risco cardiovascular / Prevalence of HIV-associated lipodystrophy in Brazilian outpatients: relation with metabolic syndrome and cardiovascular risk factors

A lipodistrofia associada ao HIV (LAHIV) acomete 40 por cento a 50 por cento dos pacientes infectados pelo vírus, mas sua prevalência no Brasil é desconhecida. O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar a prevalência de LAHIV entre adultos brasileiros infectados, bem como sua relação com fatores de risco cardiovascular e síndrome metabólica (SM). Foram avaliados 180 pacientes maiores de 18 anos, infectados por HIV, atendidos no Ambulatório de Infectologia da Universidade Estadual de Londrina. Por meio de entrevista e revisão de prontuário, foram avaliados dados antropométricos, pressão arterial, antecedentes mórbidos pessoais e familiares, duração da infecção por HIV e da aids, drogas anti-retrovirais utilizadas, CD4+, carga viral, glicemia e perfil lipídico. A LAHIV foi definida como a presença de alterações corporais percebidas pelo próprio paciente e confirmadas ao exame clínico. A SM foi diagnosticada usando os critérios do Adult Treatment Panel III (NCEP-ATPIII), revistos e atualizados pela American Heart Association (AHA/NHLBI). A prevalência observada de LAHIV foi de 55 por cento. Os pacientes com LAHIV apresentaram maior duração da infecção por HIV, da aids e do uso de anti-retrovirais. Na análise multivariada, estiveram independentemente associados ao risco de LAHIV: sexo feminino (p = 0,006) e duração da aids > 8 anos (p < 0,001). Quanto aos critérios para SM, hipertensão foi detectada em 32 por cento, baixo HDL-colesterol em 68 por cento, hipertrigliceridemia em 55 por cento, cintura aumentada em 17 por cento e glicemia aumentada e/ou diabetes em 23 por cento dos indivíduos. A cintura aumentada e a hipertrigliceridemia foram mais comuns em portadores de LAHIV. A SM foi identificada em 36 por cento dos pacientes. Na análise multivariada, estiveram associados à SM: IMC > 25 kg/m² (p < 0,001), história familiar de obesidade (p = 0,01), uso de indinavir (p = 0,001) e idade > 40 anos no diagnóstico do HIV (p = 0,002). A LAHIV apresentou...

Lipodystrophy in HIV-infected patients (LDHIV) affects 40-50 percent of HIV-infected patients, but there are no data on its prevalence in Brazil. The aim of this study was to assess the LDHIV prevalence among HIV-infected adult Brazilian individuals, as well as to evaluate LDHIV association with cardiovascular risk factors and the metabolic syndrome (MS). It was included 180 adult HIV-infected outpatients consecutively seen in the Infectology Clinic of Universidade Estadual de Londrina. Anthropometric and clinical data (blood pressure, family and personal comorbidities, duration of HIV infection/AIDS, antiretroviral drugs used, CD4+ cells, viral load, fasting glycemia and plasma lipids) were obtained both from a clinical interview as well as from medical charts. LDHIV was defined as the presence of body changes self-reported by the patients and confirmed by clinical exam. MS was defined using the NCEP-ATPIII criteria, reviewed and modified by AHA/NHLBI. A 55 percent prevalence of LDHIV was found. Individuals with LDHIV presented a longer infected period since HIV infection, longer AIDS duration and longer use of antiretroviral drugs. In multivariate analysis, women (p=0.006) and AIDS duration >8 years (p<0.001) were independently associated with LDHIV. Concerning MS diagnostic criteria, high blood pressure was found in 32 percent, low HDL-cholesterol in 68 percent, hypertriglyceridemia in 55 percent, altered waist circumference in 17 percent and altered glycemia and/or diabetes in 23 percent of individuals. Abnormal waist and hypertriglyceridemia were more common in LDHIV-affected individuals. MS was diagnosed in 36 percent. In multivariate analysis, the factors associated with MS were: BMI >25Kg/m² (p<0.001), family history of obesity (p=0.01), indinavir (p=0.001) and age >40 years on HIV first detection (p=0.002). There was a trend to higher frequency of LDHIV among patients with MS (65 percent versus 50 percent, p=0.051). LDHIV prevalence...