A supervised exercise intervention fails to improve depressive symptoms and quality of life among sedentary older adults with HIV infection

ABSTRACT

Older people living with HIV (PLWH) experience multimorbidity that can negatively impact quality of life (QoL). Exercise can improve physical function, but effects on QoL are not well understood. 32 PLWH and 37 controls aged 50–75 completed 12-weeks of moderate-intensity exercise, then were randomized to moderate or high-intensity for 12 additional weeks. Depressive symptoms (CES-D scores) were significantly greater and QOL (SF-36 mental and physical summary scores) significantly lower among PLWH at baseline (all p < 0.05). PLWH had significantly greater worsening in CES-D scores compared to controls (3.4 [0.7, 6.0]; p = 0.01) between 13and 24 weeks. Mental QoL changed minimally, with no significant difference in changes by serostatus between weeks 0 and 12 or weeks 13 and 24 (p ≤ 0.22). Changes in physical function summary scores were similar by serostatus between 0 and 12 weeks (1.5 [−1.6, 4.6], p = 0.35), but declined significantly more among PLWH between 13 and 24 weeks (−4.1 [−7.2,−1], p = 0.01). Exercise intensity had no significant effect on changes in CES-D or SF-36 summary scores; high-intensity exercise was associated with greater improvements in vitality/fatigue (4.1 [0.8, 7.3], p = 0.02), compared to moderate-intensity. Exercise initiation failed to improve depressive symptoms or QoL among PLWH. Additional interventions may be needed to maximize these patient-reported outcomes among older PLWH initiating an exercise program.

KEYWORDS:

• HIV
• older adults
• quality of Life
• exercise
• depression

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the National Institutes of Health, National Institute on Aging [grant number K23AG050260] and National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences (NCATS) Colorado CTSA [grant number UL1TR002535] (to KME). The funding sources had a no role in data collection, analysis, or interpretation; trial design; or patient recruitment. The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the National Institutes of Health.