Table 1.
Study characteristics
| Study (Country), Design, Attrition | Participants | Interventions | Outcomes | Conclusion |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aweto et al. [66] (Nigeria), RCT, 17.5% | People living with HIV on HAART (n = 40). | Intervention: Aerobic exercise training three times a week for 6 weeks and counseling. Control: Control group received Counseling. | Cardiopulmonary function: FEV1 assessed at baseline and at 6th week. | FEV1 significantly improved in the study group compared with the control group |
| Bonato et al. [59] (New Zealand), Pilot clinical trial, 28.6% | Sedentary HIV-infected persons (cART-treated) with metabolic complications (n = 49). | Intervention: 12-week exercise training, consisting of three sessions per week of 60 min brisk walking with (strength-walk group) or without (walk group) 30 min circuit-training. Control: Pre-test- post-test walk-strength group. | Inflammatory biomarkers: High sensitivity CRP, Interleukin-6, 18, D-dimer, soluble CD14. Outcome assessed at baseline and at 12 weeks. | Brisk walking, with or without strength exercise, could improve lipid profile and inflammatory markers in chronic HIV infection. |
| Dolan et al. [36] (USA), RCT, 5% | HIV-infected women with increased waist-hip ratio and self-reported fat redistribution (n = 34). | Intervention: Home based aerobic exercise (60–75% of MaxHR, 20–30 min) and progressive resistant exercise with equipments (60–80% of 1-RM, 3–4 sets of 8–10 RM). Control: Maintained normal activities. | Cardiopulmonary function: VO2max. Outcome assessed at baseline and at 16th week. | There was a significant improvement in VO2max after 16 weeks of aerobic training relative to the control group. |
| Dudgeon et al. [61] (Columbia), RCT, 21.63% | HIV infected men (n = 37). | Intervention: For MOD group, 30 mins of aerobic exercise at 60–65% of age-predicted max HR and upper-body/lower-body resistant exercise (60% of 1-RM). For LOW group, 60 min of low intensity exercise (50% of age predicted max HR). Control: Did not receive any activity. | Inflammatory biomarkers: interleukin-6, soluble TNfrereceptor II. Outcome assessed at baseline 30, 30-mins post exercise, 60-mins post exercise. | There was an increase in Il-6 from baseline to post 30 (31%) and post 60 (23%) in the MOD group while the LOW group had a 3.5% decrease in sTNFrII (p < 0.05) at 30-mins post exercise compared with baseline. |
| Dudgeon et al. [60] (Columbia), RCT, 31.54% | HIV infected men (n = 111). | Intervention: 30 mins of moderate intensity aerobic exercise training on a treadmill or stationary cycle (60–75% of age-predicted max HR) and lower-body/upper-body resistant exercise (12-RM). Control: Did not receive any activity | Inflammatory biomarkers: Interleukin-6, 1β. Outcome accessed at baseline and 6th week | Although, there was no detectable change in the level of IL-6, IL-1β was significantly elevated. |
| Ezema et al. [67] (Nigeria), RCT, 9.1% | People Living with HIV who are receiving ART (n = 30). | Intervention: Moderate intensity continuous aerobic exercise training (60–79% of the maxHR, 40–60 min, 3 times/week) on a treadmill. Control: Conventional therapy involving ART and counseling. | Cardiopulmonary function: VO2max. Outcome assessed at baseline and at 8th week. | Moderate intensity continuous exercise program had a significant effect on VO2max. |
| Farinatti et al. [68] (Brazil), RCT, nil | Seropositive patient treated with HAART. | Intervention: Aerobic exercise on cycle ergometer (30 mins); strengthening exercises (3 sets of 12 reps; Flexibility exercise (10 mins). Control: Participants did not receive any exercise. | Cardiopulmonary function: VO2max. Outcome assessed at baseline and at 12th week. | Overall training can improve aerobic fitness of HIV-infected patients with no negative effect on their immunological function. |
| Hand et al. [69] (Columbia), RCT, 34.88% | HIV-infected men and women (n = 43). | Intervention: Aerobic exercise training on threadmill (30 mins, 50–70% of age predicted MHR) and upper-body/lower body resistance training (20 mins, 12-RM). Control: wait-list | Cardiopulmonary function: VO2 max. Outcome assessed at baseline and at 6thweek. | There was a significant increase in estimated VO2 max (p = 0.001) using moderate exercise training |
| Mangona et al. [70] (Mozambique), RCT, 15% | HIV+ African Women taking ART (n = 53). | FEG: 20 mins of cycling at 60–85% of V2 peak and muscular endurance; circuit training consisting of 6 free weight exercises (15-RM); stretching exercises (n = 19) PEG: recreational activities Control: No exercise | Cardiopulmonary function: VO2 max. Outcome assessed at baseline and at 12th week. | Cardiopulmonary fitness increases significantly in VO2 peak (FEG: 14.8%; PEG: 11.1%) with no significant difference in the CG |
| McDermott et al. [65] (Ireland), RCT, 15.4% | HIV+ patients without any known cognitive function (n = 13). | Supervised session of exercise training (ergometer, treadmill, cross trainer); 40–75% of HRreserve and unsupervised session (jogging, brisk walking, cycling) 3 times per week. Control: Advised to continue with normal routine. | Cardiopulmonary function: VO2max. Outcome assessed at baseline and at 16th week. | Aerobic exercise had no effect on aerobic fitness or cognitive function. |
| Mutimura et al. [77] (Rwanda), RCT, 4% | HIV+ patients with moderate to severe Body fat redistribution (n = 150). | Supervised training program (stretching, aerobic and strengthening exercises) 45–75% of age predicted Max HR. Control: Participants did not perform any exercise training. | Cardiopulmonary function: VO2peak. Outcome assessed at baseline and at 6th month. | Exercise training positively improved cardiorespiratory fitness in HAART-treated HIV+ Africans. |
| Patil et al. [73] (India), RCT, 40% | HIV-positive females (n = 40). | Aerobic exercise (brisk walking, 50–70% of VO2max) and resistance exercise via free weight. Control: Advised to continue their routine level of daily tasks and activities. | Cardiopulmonary function: VO2peak. Outcome assessed at baseline and at 8th week. | Moderate intensity improved aerobic capacity in experimental HIIV group. |
| Perna et al. [72] (South Florida), RCT, 34.88% | Symptomatic HIV-1 seropositive men and women (n = 43). | An interval cycling exercise program (3 times per week) for 3 months; 45 mins, 70–80% of mHR. Control: Continued with usual activity (wait-list). | Cardiopulmonary function: VO2peak, O2 pulse, Tidal volume. Outcome assessed at baseline and at 12th week. | Functional aerobic limitations common in HIV-infected individuals can be reversible through exercise adherence. |
| Pedro et al. [76] (Brazil), RCT, 43.1% | Adults living with HIV (n = 58). | Intervention: Concurrent training (15–20 min of aerobic exercise; 50–70% of HRrest plus 40 mins of resistant exercise; 2–3 sets of 8–12 RM) 3 times per week The resistant exercise involves free weights & machine. Control: Optional Recreational activities (once/twice per week). | Cardiopulmonary function: VO2peak, VO2sub, peak speed. Outcome assessed at baseline and at 16th week. | Concurrent training was effective in improving cardiopulmonary fitness and endurance. |
| Pedro et al. [62] (Brazil), RCT, 42.86% | Adults living with HIV (n = 49). | Concurrent training consisting of 20-min aerobic exercise training on a treadmill (50–70% of HR) and resistant training (8 exercises via free weights or machine, 2–3 sets of 8–12 RM). Control: 60 min of recreational activities comprising of dancing, walking, stretching. | Inflammatory biomarkers: Intrleukin-4, 5, 6, 8, 10, Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha, IFN-ϒ. Outcome accessed at baseline and 16th week. | Concurrent training decreased the pro-inflammatory effects of IL-5, IL-5, 8, 10 in HIV infected people undergoing ART. |
| Smith et al. [71] (USA), RCT, 18% | HIV-1 Infected adults (n = 60). | Intervention: Supervised aerobic exercise training program (3x per wk) for 30 mins, 60–80% of VO2 max. Control: Continued with usual activity (wait-list) | Cardiopulmonary function: FEV1, Vo2 max. Outcome assessed at baseline and at 12th week. | There was a beneficial increase in VO2max by 2.6 mL/kg. |
| Stringer et al. [75] (California), RCT, 23% | HIV positive subjects (n = 34). | Intervention: For MOD, aerobic exercise (80% of LAT work rate, 3 times per week). For HEAVY: aerobic exercise (50% of difference between their LAT and their VO2 max) for 30–40 min on cycle ergometer. Control: Maintained current level of activity without change. | Cardiopulmonary function: FEV1, VO2max. Outcome assessed at baseline and at 6th week. | Aerobic fitness increased was significantly in both the EX groups relative to the control group. |
| Roos et al. [63] (South Africa), RCT, 39.2% | HIV-infected individuals with the risk factor of Ischemic Heart Diseases (n = 84). | Intervention: Education and home-based pedometer walking program to improve participants’ activity.30 min walking program 3 or 5 times a week over a 12-week period. Control: continued with standard clinic management | High Sensitivity CRP. Outcome assessed at baseline and at 12 weeks. | Intervention had no effect on CRP. |
| Terry et al. [74] (Brazil), RCT, 28.57% | Carriers of HIV-1 virus who had hyperlipidemia (n = 42). | Intervention: Aerobic exercise training (30 mins of the target intensity) using treadmill and stretching exercises. Control: 45 mins of soft stretching and relaxation routine without significant elevation of HR | Cardiopulmonary function: VO2max. Outcome assessed at baseline and at 12th week. | Intervention resulted in a significant improvement in VO2max for the Diet/EX group compared to the Diet-only group. |
| Vingren et al. [64] (USA), RCT, nil | Men infected with HIV and recently admitted to an inpatient substance facility (n = 30). | Intervention: Progressive overload Resistance training program comprising of free weight and cable controlled exercise (3x per week, 3–5 sets of 5–12 reps). Control: Maintained usual daily activities. | Inflammatory biomarkers: IL-10, 6, 4, 2, 1β, IFN-ϒ Outcome assessed at baseline and at 6th week. | Intervention had no effect on basal concentration of circulating cytokines for men living with HIV and undergoing treatment for substance abuse. |
| Zanetti et al. [80] (Brazil), RCT, nil | Previously sedentary people infected with HIV (n = 30). | Intervention: Non-linear Resistance intervention with free weight exercises on 3 alternate days. Control: Maintained daily habits. | Inflammatory biomarkers: Interlleukin-6, 8, 10, 1β. Outcome assessed at baseline and at 12th week. | There was an increase in IL-10, and a decrease in IL-1β, IL-6, IL-8, TNF-α. |
| Zanetti et al. [44] (Brazil), RCT, nil | People living with HIV that are on HAART (n = 30). | Intervention: Supervised nonlinear Resistance training program 3times per week on nonconsecutive days via free weight. Control: Maintained usual daily activities | High Sensitivity CRP. Outcome assessed at baseline and at 12th week. | There was a significant reduction in CRP levels in inflammatory markers in PLHIV. |