Cardiopulmonary and CD4 cell changes in response to exercise training in early symptomatic HIV infection.
OBJECTIVE
The purposes of the present study were to assess the effects of a 12-wk laboratory based aerobic exercise program on cardiopulmonary function, CD4 cell count, and physician-assessed health status among symptomatic pre-AIDS HIV-infected individuals (N = 28) and to assess the degree to which ill health was associated with exercise relapse.


METHODS
Responses to graded exercise test, physician-assessed health status, and CD4 cell counts were determined at baseline and 12-wk follow-up for participants randomly assigned to exercise or control conditions, and reasons for exercise noncompliance were recorded.


RESULTS
Approximately 61% of exercise-assigned participants complied (> 50% attendance) with the exercise program, and analyses of exercise relapse data indicated that obesity and smoking status, but not exercise-associated illness, differentiated compliant from noncompliant exercisers. Compliant exercisers significantly improved peak oxygen consumption (VO2peak; 12%), oxygen pulse (O2pulse; 13%), tidal volume (TV; 8%), ventilation (VE; 17%), and leg power (25%) to a greater degree than control participants and noncompliant exercisers (all P < 0.05). Although no group differences in health status were found, a significant interaction effect indicated that noncompliant exercisers' CD4 cells declined (18%) significantly, whereas compliant exercisers' cell counts significantly increased (13%; P < 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
We conclude that although aerobic exercise can improve cardiopulmonary functioning in symptomatic HIV-infected individuals with minimal health risks, attention to factors associated with exercise adherence is warranted.
School of Physical Education, Sport Psychology Program, West Virginia University, Morgantown 26506-6116, USA.
F M
FM
Perna
A
A
LaPerriere
N
N
Klimas
G
G
Ironson
A
A
Perry
J
J
Pavone
A
A
Goldstein
P
P
Majors
D
D
Makemson
C
C
Talutto
N
N
Schneiderman
M A
MA
Fletcher
O G
OG
Meijer
L
L
Koppes
D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D018791:CD4 Lymphocyte Count; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D015444:Exercise / Q000502:physiology*; D005080:Exercise Test; D005081:Exercise Therapy; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000276:immunology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D015497:HIV-1; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D015151:Immunoblotting; D007866:Leg / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010101:Oxygen Consumption / Q000502:physiology; D010349:Patient Compliance; D012123:Pulmonary Ventilation / Q000502:physiology*; D012129:Respiratory Function Tests; D013990:Tidal Volume / Q000502:physiology