Physical Fitness in Children Infected with the Human Immunodeficiency Virus: Associations with Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy

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Abstract
Obesity, sedentary lifestyles, and antiretroviral therapies may predispose HIV-infected children to poor physical fitness. Estimated peak oxygen consumption (VO 2 peak), maximal strength and endurance, and flexibility were measured in HIV-infected and uninfected children. Among HIV-infected children, anthropometric and HIV disease-specific factors were evaluated to determine their association with VO 2 peak. Forty-five HIV-infected children (mean age 16.1 years) and 36 uninfected children (mean age 13.5 years) participated in the study. In HIV-infected subjects, median viral load was 980 copies/ml (IQR 200–11,000 copies/ml), CD4% was 28% (IQR 15–35%), and 82% were on highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART). Compared to uninfected children, after adjusting for age, sex, race, body fat, and siblingship, HIV-infected children had lower VO 2 peak (25.92 vs. 30.90 ml/kg/min, p p =0.0003), and lower-extremity strength-to-weight ratio (0.79 vs. 1.10 kg lifted/kg of body weight, p =0.002). Among the HIV-infected children, a multivariable analysis adjusting for age, sex, race, percent body fat, and viral load showed VO 2 peak was 0.30 ml/kg/min lower per unit increase in percent body fat ( p 2 peak (SE) decreased 29.45 (±1.62), 28.70 (±1.87), and 24.09 (±0.75) ml/kg/min across HAART exposure categories of no exposure, p 2 peak in HIV-infected children include higher body fat and duration of HAART ≥60 months. Future studies that elucidate the understanding of these differences and mechanisms of decreased physical fitness should be pursued.

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