Effects of 8-Week Circuit Exercise Training on the Cardiorespiratory Fitness and Health Status of People Living with HIV at Abakaliki, Ebonyi State, Nigeria

Abstract

Introduction: Exercise is regarded as an important adjuvant therapy for reducing the negative effects of Antiretroviral Therapy and improving the health status of people living with HIV (PLWH), but there is limited evidence on the effects of circuit exercise training on PLWH. Objective: This study determined the effects of circuit exercise on the cardiorespiratory fitness and health status of PLWH. Methods: This pretest-posttest randomized control study recruited 120 PLWH from the HIV clinic at Alex Ekwueme Federal University Teaching Hospital, Abakaliki. Participants were consecutively invited at the clinic to join the study. Fish bowl method was used to randomize the participants to either intervention group or control group. Moderate intensity (50 – 75% MHR) circuit exercise training was administered to the participants 3 times a week, between 30-60 minutes per session, for 8 weeks. Cardiorespiratory fitness and health status were measured at baseline and at 8-week. Descriptive statistics of mean, standard deviation, percentages, and bar chart was used to summarize data. Paired sample t-test and independent sample t-test were used to determine the mean difference within and between the groups respectively. Alpha level was set at P<0.05. Results: There was statistically significant difference in mean score of cardiorespiratory fitness and health status within the intervention group, and between the groups after 8-week circuit exercise training. Bar chart showed improvement in all the domains of health status. Conclusion: An 8-week circuit exercise training improved cardiorespiratory fitness, and health status of PLWH.