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Table 4 Results of Meta-Analyses in Aerobic Exercise and HIV Systematic Review: Cardiorespiratory Outcomes

From: Effectiveness of aerobic exercise for adults living with HIV: systematic review and meta-analysis using the Cochrane Collaboration protocol

Outcomes

Sub-Group Comparison of Meta-Analysis

# of Individual Studies Included in Meta-Analysis

Number of Participants Included in Meta-Analysis

Weighted Mean Difference (WMD)

95 % Confidence Interval

P value of overall effect

I2 statistic (p value for heterogeneity)

Interpretation

VO2max (ml/kg/min)

Aerobic (constant or interval) exercise or combined aerobic and PRE compared with no exercise

8 studies

(Baigis 2002 [50]; Dolan 2006 [51]; Fitch 2012 [31]; Mutimura 2008a [45]; Perna 1999 [48]; Smith 2001 [40]; Stringer 1998 [49], Tiozzo 2011 [26])

358

2.87 ml/kg/minb

1.69, 4.04

<0.0001a

67 %

(p = 0.003)

Significant (and potential clinically important) improvement in change in VO2max among exercisers compared with non-exercisers.

Aerobic exercise (constant or interval) compared with no exercise

5 studies

(Baigis 2002 [50]; Mutimura 2008a [45]; Perna 1999 [48]; Smith 2001 [40]; Stringer 1998 [49])

276

2.63 ml/kg/minb

1.19, 4.07

0.0003a

79 %

(p = 0.0008)

Significant (and potential clinically important) improvement in change in VO2max among exercisers compared with non-exercisers.

Constant aerobic exercise group compared with no exercise

4 studies

(Baigis 2002 [50]; Mutimura 2008a [45]; Smith 2001 [40]; Stringer 1998 [49])

248

2.40 ml/kg/minb

0.82, 3.99

0.003a

83 %

(p = 0.0006)

Significant (and potential clinically important) improvement in change in VO2max among exercisers compared with non-exercisers.

Combined aerobic and PRE group compared with no exercise

3 studies

(Dolan 2006 [51]; Fitch 2012; [31], Tiozzo 2011 [26])

82

3.71 ml/kg/minb

1.73, 5.70

0.0002a

0 %

(p = 0.84)

Significant (and potential clinically important) improvement in change in VO2max among exercisers compared with non-exercisers.

Heavy versus moderate intensity exercise

2 studies

(MacArthur 1993 [53]; Stringer 1998 [49])

24

4.30 ml/kg/minb

0.61, 7.98

0.02a

67 %

(p = 0.99)

Greater (and potential clinically important) improvement in VO2max for participants in the heavy-intensity exercise group compared with the moderate-intensity exercise group.

Combined aerobic exercise and diet or nutrition counselling group compared with diet or nutrition counselling alone

2 studies

(Ogalha 2011 [28]; Terry 2006 [52])

93

3.36 ml/kg/minb

−3.03, 9.75

0.30

88 %

(p = 0.004)

No significant difference in change in VO2max was found for participants in the combined aerobic exercise and diet or nutrition counselling group compared with the diet or nutrition counselling group only

Maximum Heart Rate (bpm)

Aerobic (constant or interval) exercise or combined aerobic and PRE compared with no exercise

4 studies

(Lox 1995 [38]; Perez-Moreno 2007 [27]; Perna 1999 [48]; Rigsby 1992 [47])

92

−7.33 beats per minute

−22.52, 7.87

0.34

97 % (p < 0.00001)

Non-significant trend towards a decrease in heart rate maximum among exercisers compared with non-exercisers.

Aerobic (constant or interval) exercise or combined aerobic and PRE compared with no exercise

2 studies

(Lox 1995 [38]; Perna 1999 [48])

49

−9.81 beats per minute

−26.28, 6.67

0.24

92 %

(p = 0.0003)

Non-significant trend towards a decrease in heart rate maximum among exercisers compared with non-exercisers.

Combined aerobic and PRE group compared with no exercise

2 studies

(Perez-Moreno 2007 [27]; Rigsby 1992 [47])

43

−4.91 beats per minute

−34.13, 24.30

0.74

99 % (p < 0.00001)

No significant difference in change in heart rate maximum among exercisers compared with non-exercisers.

Exercise Time (min)

Aerobic (constant or interval) exercise or combined aerobic and PRE compared with no exercise

4 studies

(Dolan 2006 [51]; Fitch 2012 [31]; Rigsby 1992 [47]; Smith 2001 [40])

129

2.66 min

0.12, 5.19

0.04a

98 % (p < 0.00001)

Significant increase in exercise time among exercisers compared with non-exercisers.

Combined aerobic and PRE group compared with no exercise

3 studies

(Dolan 2006 [51]; Fitch 2012 [31]; Rigsby 1992 [47])

83

3.29 min

0.10, 6.49

0.04a

97 % (p < 0.00001)

Significant increase in exercise time among exercisers compared with non-exercisers.

  1. bpm beats per minute
  2. aindicates statistical significance
  3. bindicates potential clinically important improvement in outcome