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Strength Training and Endurance Exercise for LIFE

Effect of Exercise Training on Inflammation and Function in HIV Infected Veterans

Status
Completed
Phases
Unknown
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT02101060
Acronym
STEEL
Enrollment
33
Registered
2014-04-01
Start date
2014-09-15
Completion date
2019-10-04
Last updated
2026-04-22

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

HIV

Keywords

exercise, aging, aerobic capacity, cardiac function, inflammation

Brief summary

Research is needed to determine safe and effective exercise rehabilitation programs to prevent and improve physical disability in older adults living with HIV. This problem is of great importance to the VA. The majority of the 25 thousand HIV-infected veterans are over 50 years of age (64%). The combined effect of aging and inflammation increase the risk for physical disability in older HIV-infected veterans. This translational exercise training trial will examine the cardiac and skeletal muscle effects of combined aerobic exercise and resistance training to attenuate the functional declines of aging with HIV by reducing the deleterious consequences of chronic inflammation. Findings will guide future rehabilitation research on cardiac remodeling and inflammation of skeletal muscle. The proposed research will advance the goal to develop effective rehabilitation strategies that improve the health of older HIV-infected veterans.

Detailed description

The objective of this study is to determine the effect of exercise training on the central (cardiovascular) and peripheral (muscular) impairments underlying poor physical function by comparing older HIV-infected veterans randomized to combine aerobic and resistance exercise training versus usual care. The study hypothesis is that a progressive aerobic and resistance rehabilitation program will increase aerobic capacity and muscle strength, which will be mediated by improved diastolic function, increased muscle mass, and decreased systemic inflammation. To test this hypothesis, investigators will conduct a randomized 16-week trial of progressive aerobic and resistance training versus usual care control in 40 sedentary older (50+ years) HIV-infected veterans. The study will determine the effects of exercise training on aerobic capacity and diastolic function, and their relationship to changes in biomarkers of systemic inflammation and cardiac fibrosis (AIM 1). The study will also determine the effect of exercise training on strength and muscle mass, and their relationship to changes in biomarkers of systemic inflammation (AIM 2).

Interventions

OTHERexercise

16-week progressive aerobic and resistance exercise training

Sponsors

VA Office of Research and Development
Lead SponsorFED

Study design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
OTHER
Masking
SINGLE (Outcomes Assessor)

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
50 Years to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
No

Inclusion criteria

* HIV-infected veterans adult 50 years of age and older under medical care for HIV * Antiretroviral Therapy

Exclusion criteria

* Patients with comorbid conditions that could have a potential impact on their ability to perform exercise testing and training will be excluded according to the American College of Sports Medicine * Only sedentary adults will be eligible. Individuals that participate in regular structured aerobic exercise or resistance training in the prior 6-months will be excluded

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Aerobic Capacityat baseline and at 16 weeks (before and after the intervention phase)VO2 peak will be used as the primary measure of aerobic capacity. Subjects will be asked to exercise to voluntary exhaustion during a treadmill test using a modified Bruce protocol. In this Outcome, a mean difference between baseline to 16 weeks is reported (value at 16 weeks minus value at baseline).
Diastolic Functionat baseline and at 16 weeks (before and after the intervention phase)Exercise stress two-dimensional transthoracic echocardiography with tissue Doppler imaging (stress-echo) will be used to collect data on diastolic function. Reporting on ejection fraction. In this Outcome, a mean difference between baseline to 16 weeks is reported (value at 16 weeks minus value at baseline).

Secondary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Biomarkers of Systemic Inflammationat baseline and at 16 weeks (before and after the intervention phase)Changes in plasma levels of biomarkers of chronic inflammation will be calculated pre/post intervention, and will be tested for association with changes in primary outcomes as well as between group differences. Presenting IL-18 values (log converted for analysis). In this Outcome, a mean difference between baseline to 16 weeks is reported (value at 16 weeks minus value at baseline).

Countries

United States

Contacts

PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATORKris Ann K Oursler, MD

Salem VA Medical Center, Salem, VA

Participant flow

Participants by arm

ArmCount
Exercise
16-week progressive aerobic and resistance exercise training exercise: 16-week progressive aerobic and resistance exercise training
17
Control
usual care controls
16
Total33

Baseline characteristics

CharacteristicControlTotalExercise
Age, Continuous61.17 years
STANDARD_DEVIATION 7.4
61.1 years
STANDARD_DEVIATION 6.6
61.03 years
STANDARD_DEVIATION 6.1
Race (NIH/OMB)
American Indian or Alaska Native
0 Participants0 Participants0 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
Asian
0 Participants0 Participants0 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
Black or African American
9 Participants23 Participants14 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
More than one race
0 Participants0 Participants0 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander
0 Participants0 Participants0 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
Unknown or Not Reported
0 Participants0 Participants0 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
White
7 Participants10 Participants3 Participants
Sex: Female, Male
Female
2 Participants3 Participants1 Participants
Sex: Female, Male
Male
14 Participants30 Participants16 Participants

Adverse events

Event typeEG000
affected / at risk
EG001
affected / at risk
deaths
Total, all-cause mortality
0 / 170 / 16
other
Total, other adverse events
1 / 172 / 16
serious
Total, serious adverse events
0 / 170 / 16

Outcome results

Primary

Aerobic Capacity

VO2 peak will be used as the primary measure of aerobic capacity. Subjects will be asked to exercise to voluntary exhaustion during a treadmill test using a modified Bruce protocol. In this Outcome, a mean difference between baseline to 16 weeks is reported (value at 16 weeks minus value at baseline).

Time frame: at baseline and at 16 weeks (before and after the intervention phase)

Population: We have incomplete data on completers in the control group.

ArmMeasureValue (MEAN)Dispersion
ExerciseAerobic Capacity0.15 Liters/minuteStandard Error 0.04
ControlAerobic Capacity0.02 Liters/minuteStandard Error 0.07
Primary

Diastolic Function

Exercise stress two-dimensional transthoracic echocardiography with tissue Doppler imaging (stress-echo) will be used to collect data on diastolic function. Reporting on ejection fraction. In this Outcome, a mean difference between baseline to 16 weeks is reported (value at 16 weeks minus value at baseline).

Time frame: at baseline and at 16 weeks (before and after the intervention phase)

Population: We have incomplete data on completers in these groups.

ArmMeasureValue (MEAN)Dispersion
ExerciseDiastolic Function1.8 percentageStandard Error 1.9
ControlDiastolic Function0.5 percentageStandard Error 2.7
Secondary

Biomarkers of Systemic Inflammation

Changes in plasma levels of biomarkers of chronic inflammation will be calculated pre/post intervention, and will be tested for association with changes in primary outcomes as well as between group differences. Presenting IL-18 values (log converted for analysis). In this Outcome, a mean difference between baseline to 16 weeks is reported (value at 16 weeks minus value at baseline).

Time frame: at baseline and at 16 weeks (before and after the intervention phase)

ArmMeasureValue (MEAN)Dispersion
ExerciseBiomarkers of Systemic Inflammation-0.04 pg/mLStandard Error 0.02
ControlBiomarkers of Systemic Inflammation-0.03 pg/mLStandard Error 0.02

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Apr 23, 2026