ORIGINAL ARTICLES  EPIDEMIOLOGY AND CLINICAL MEDICINE 

The Journal of Sports Medicine and Physical Fitness 2014 February;54(1):100-7

Copyright © 2014 EDIZIONI MINERVA MEDICA

lingua: Inglese

Aerobic power and muscle strength of individuals living with HIV/AIDS

Raso V. ^{1, 2, 3}, Shephard R. J. ⁴, Casseb J. S. R. ⁵, Duarte A. J. S. ⁶, D’A. Greve J. M. ^{1, 7} ✉

¹ Department of Experimental Pathophysiology Medical School of the University of Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, FMUSP, Brazil; ² Master Program of Body Balance Rehabilitation and Social Inclusion, Bandeirante University of Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brasil; ³ Medicine and Physical Education School of the University of Western Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brasil; ⁴ Faculty of Kinesiology and Physical Education and Health University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada; ⁵ Secondary Immunodeficiency Ambulatory, Clinics Hospital, Medical School of the, University of Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brasil; ⁶ Laboratory of Investigation in Dermatology and Immunodeficiences, Medical School of the University of Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brasil; ⁷ Movement Studies Laboratory, Orthopedics and Traumatology Clinic Hospital, Medical School of the University of Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brasil

Aim: We wished to evaluate any continuing adverse effects upon peak aerobic power and muscle strength associated with either HAART therapy or persistently low CD4+ counts in men living with HIV/AIDS.
Methods: We studied 39 HIV/AIDS patients with an average disease history of 6.1 years, and 28 normal sedentary volunteers. All subjects performed tests of peak aerobic power and isokinetic muscle force, and the HIV/AIDS group also completed the Profile of Mood States (POMS) and WHO Quality of Life questionnaires. Blood was sampled for standard measures of immune function (CD4+ and CD8+ counts) and viral load.
Results: Patient values were generally as in the normal subjects and appeared to be uninfluenced by the CD4+ nadir or the use of HAART therapy. However, the isokinetic muscle strength was lower in individuals with a low current CD4+ count. Isokinetic strength was also negatively correlated with current CD4+ and CD8+ counts.
Conclusion: HAART therapy does not appear to have an adverse long-term effect on either aerobic power or muscle strength. Many ambulatory volunteers living with HIV/AIDS have a normal peak aerobic power. However, isokinetic strength can remain low, particularly in those with low current T-cell counts.