The Effects of Exercise Training on Quality of Life in HAART-Treated HIV-Positive Rwandan Subjects with Body Fat Redistribution

• Published in: Quality of life research Vol. 17; no. 3; pp. 377 - 385
• Main Authors: Mutimura, Eugene, Stewart, Aimee, Crowther, Nigel J., Yarasheski, Kevin E., Cade, W. Todd
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Dordrecht Springer 01.04.2008; Springer Netherlands; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Adipose Tissue; Adult; AIDS; Anthropometry; Anti-Retroviral Agents - therapeutic use; Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active; Body Composition; Body fat; Clinical and Policy Applications; Exercise; Exercise Therapy; Female; Fitness training programs; Health Status; Highly active antiretroviral therapy; HIV; HIV Infections - drug therapy; Human immunodeficiency virus; Humans; Male; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; Men; Psychological Tests; Psychometrics; Public Health; Quality of Life; Quality of Life Research; Rwanda; Social psychology; Sociology; Strength training; Wellbeing; Rwanda; Lipodystrophy; Africa; Rwanda; HAART
• ISSN: 0962-9343; 1573-2649
• DOI: 10.1007/s11136-008-9319-4

Objective Our objective was to examine the effects of exercise training (EXS) on quality of life (QoL) in highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART)-treated HIV-positive (HIV+) subjects with body fat redistribution (BFR) in Rwanda. Methods The effects of a randomised controlled trial of EXS on QoL were measured using World Health Organisation Quality of Life (WHOQOL)-BREF in HIV+ subjects with BFR randomised to EXS (n = 50; BFR + EXS) or no exercise training (n = 50; BFR + noEXS). Results At 6 months, scores on the psychological [1.3 (0.3) vs. 0.5 (0.1); P < 0.0001], independence [0.6 (0.1) vs. 0.0 (0.0); P < 0.0001], social relationships [0.6 (0.2) vs. 0.0 (0.0); P< 0.0001] and HIV HAART-specific QoL domains [1.4 (0.2) vs. –0.1 (0.2); P < 0.0001] improved more in BFR + EXS than BFR + noEXS group, respectively. Self-esteem [1.3 (0.8) vs. 0.1 (0.6); P< 0.001], body image [1.5 (0.6) vs. 0.0 (0.5); P < 0.001] and emotional stress [1.6 (0.7) vs. 0.2 (0.5); P < 0.001] improved more in the BFR + EXS group than BFR + noEXS group, respectively. Psychological [1.5 (0.2) vs. 1.1 (0.3); P < 0.0001], social relationship [0.8 (0.2) vs. 0.4 (0.2); P< 0.0001], and HIV HAART-specific well-being [1.8 (0.2) vs. 1.0 (0.0); P< 0.0001] improved more in BFR + EXS female than male subjects. Conclusions Exercise training improved several components of QoL in HAART-treated HIV+ African subjects with BFR. Exercise training is an inexpensive and efficacious strategy for improving QoL in HIV+ African subjects, which may improve HAART adherence and treatment initiatives in resource-limited areas of sub-Saharan Africa.