Short-term aerobic training improves heart rate variability in men living with HIV: a pre-post pilot study.

Background: Heart rate variability (HRV) a feasible predictor of prognosis in cardiovascular outcomes shown to be reduced in people living with HIV (PLWH).

Objective: This study sought to understand the effects of short-term aerobic training (AT) on the resting HRV and endothelial function in this population.

Methods: PLWH performed 24 sessions of AT protocol. The protocol consists of 40 min of treadmill (60 to 80% of the VO2max), 3 times per week, for 8 weeks. HRV (standard deviation of all normal RR intervals - SDNN; root mean square of the successive differences - rMSSD; low frequency - LF; high frequency - HF; LF:HF ratio) and endothelial function parameters were evaluated by EndoPAT system pre and post intervention.

Results: 7 men, the median age of the sample was 49 years (range, 38-68 years), completed the protocol. AT improved resting HRV parameters: SDNN (p = 0.02, power analysis (PA) 0.54), rMSSD (p = 0.02, PA = 0.99), LF (p = 0.02, PA = 0.85). HF, LF:HF ratio and endothelial function parameters showed no changes.

Conclusions: The results suggest the short-term AT may improve HRV in men living with HIV.