Effects of aerobic and combined exercise interventions on CD4 cell counts and VO2max in people living with HIV: a systematic review and meta-analysis
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Abstract
Exercise has been proposed as a non-pharmacological strategy to improve immune functions and cardiorespiratory fitness in people living with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). This systematic review and meta-analysis evaluated the effects of aerobic and combined exercise interventions on the cluster of differentiation 4 (CD4) cell counts and maximal oxygen consumption (VO2max). Randomized controlled trials were identified and pooled using random-effects models. Seven trials comprising 366 participants were included. Meta-analysis demonstrated a significant improvement in VO2max following exercise interventions compared with control conditions, while a favorable but non-significant effect was observed for CD4 cell counts. Several included studies implemented combined exercise modalities (e.g., aerobic with resistance training), which may have contributed to the observed effects. These findings suggest that exercise interventions, particularly those including aerobic components, improve cardiorespiratory fitness and may provide modest immunological benefits in people living with HIV. Further adequately powered trials are required to clarify the independent effects of different exercise modalities and to determine optimal exercise prescriptions.
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