Effects of resistance training in HIV-infected patients: A meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials

ABSTRACT

The relative effects of resistance training (RT) upon muscle fitness and immune function among HIV-infected patients are uncertain. The purpose of this study was to perform a meta-analysis to determine the effects of RT upon muscle strength, muscle mass and CD4 cells count and to identify potential moderators of those outcomes in HIV-infected patients. Meta-analyses use random or fixed-effects model depending on the heterogeneity of effect sizes, complemented with Hedge’s g correction factor. Thirteen trials were meta-analysed. Overall, RT increased muscle strength (35.5%, P < 0.01) and CD4 cell count (26.1%, P = 0.003) versus controls (P < 0.03), but not muscle mass (P = 0.051). Meta-regression followed by subgroup moderator analysis showed that gains in muscle strength followed a dose–response pattern with largest increase detected among trials with longer (24 weeks; 49.3%) than shorter intervention (<12 weeks; 39%), higher (Physiotherapy Evidence-Based Database [PEDro] scale = 6; 38.3%) than lower (PEDro = 5; 28.1%) quality, and longer (12 months; 59.7%) than shorter time under highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) (<6 months; 37.1%), (P < 0.01). RT appears to be efficacious to improve muscular strength (~35.5%) and CD4 cell count (~26.1%), but not muscle mass of HIV-infected patients. Effects upon strength were greater in studies with higher quality and among trials with longer RT and HAART.

KEYWORDS:

• Exercise
• AIDS
• research synthesis
• muscle fitness
• immune function

Acknowledgements

This study was partially supported by the grants from CNPq and FAPERJ.

Disclosure statement

The authors have no conflict of interest to declare.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico [309012/2010]; Fundação Carlos Chagas Filho de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado do Rio de Janeiro [E-26/201.385/2014].