ABSTRACT Adults with HIV on therapy can live a normal lifespan but exhibit advanced ageing which includes reduced cardiorespiratory fitness. Our objective was to determine the feasibility and effects of… Click to show full abstract
ABSTRACT Adults with HIV on therapy can live a normal lifespan but exhibit advanced ageing which includes reduced cardiorespiratory fitness. Our objective was to determine the feasibility and effects of high-intensity interval training (HIIT) combined with resistance training (RT) in older adults with HIV. We conducted a cross-over pilot study within a randomized exercise trial in sedentary adults with HIV ≥50 years of age. First, participants were randomized to 4 months of continuous high-intensity aerobic exercise (AEX) and RT 3x/week or standard of care control. Then, the control group completed 4 months of HIIT + RT (3x/week). Among the 32 individuals enrolled, 26 eligible participants were randomized. Most participants were African American (63%) and male (95%) with a mean (SD) age of 61.5 (6.7) years and VO2peak of 24.5 (4.9) ml/kg/min. Attendance and adherence to both exercise training interventions were high. The clinically significant increases in VO2peak (ml/kg/min) after HIIT (3.09 ±1.04, p=0.02) and AEX (2.09 ±0.72, p=0.01) represented improvements of 17.1% and 7.7%, respectively. Both groups had improvements in exercise endurance (time on the treadmill) and strength (all p< 0.01). This pilot study supports HIIT as an efficient means to deliver high-intensity AEX to improve cardiorespiratory fitness toward the goal of attenuating the accelerated ageing process in adults with HIV.
               
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