Effect Of 8-Week of Hospital-Based Resistance Train ing Program on TCD4+ Cell Count and Anthropometric Characteristic of HIV Pati en s in Tehran, Iran: A Randomized Controlled Trial

We examined the effects of an 8 w circuit resistanc e training (RES) program using elastic bands and body weight on TCD4+ cell counts and anthropome try in HIV patients. Patients (N=21) receiving antiretroviral therapy were randomly assi gned to resistance training (RES; n=14) or control group (CON; n=7) groups. RES (3/w) consiste d of training with elastic bands and bodyweight training focusing on major muscle groups . CON received standard care. Statistical analyses were performed using general linear models adjusted for age, gender, length of infection and respective baseline measures. The pri mary outcome was TDC4+ and secondary outcomes were anthropometry indices. Tertiary asses sm nts explored Pearson correlations surrounding the relationship between changes in ant hropometry and TDC4+. We observed significant increases in TCD4+ count accompanying R ES training (105.50 cells/mm3, 95% CI, 47.42, 163.59), while CON significantly decreased ( -41.01 cells/mm3, 95% CI, -126.78, 44.76). Significant between group differences were noted (P <0.02; n=0.42). We also observed significant reductions in fat mass for RES (1.18 kg , 95% CI, =1.80, -0.56) vs. increased fat mass for CON (1.21 kg, 95% CI, 0.31, 2.11). Significant between group differences were noted (P=0.001, n=0.64). Similar effects were noted for lean body ma ss. No significant changes were observed for body weight. Significant correlations were observed for fat mass (r = -0.699, P=0.001) and lean mass (r = 0.553, P=0.017), but no t body weight (r =-0.390, P=0.109) vs. changes in TDC4+. Our results suggest the RES progr am used in this study is effective for improving TDC4+ status and body composition in HIV patients.