Prediction of Cardiorespiratory Fitness in Older Men Infected with the Human Immunodeficiency Virus: Clinical Factors and Value of the Six-Minute Walk Distance

To authenticate to the full-text of this article, please visit this link: http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1532-5415.2009.02495.x Byline: Krisann K. Oursler (*[dagger]), Leslie I. Katzel (*[dagger]), Barbara A. Smith ([double dagger]), Wayne B. Scott (s.), David W. Russ ([parallel]), John D. Sorkin (*[dagger]) Keywords: HIV; AIDS; cardiorespiratory fitness; physical function Abstract: OBJECTIVES: To investigate factors related to cardiorespiratory fitness in older human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected patients and to explore the utility of 6-minute walk distance (6-MWD) in measuring fitness. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study in clinic-based cohort. SETTING: Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Baltimore, Maryland. PARTICIPANTS: Forty-three HIV-infected men, median age 57 (range 50-82), without recent acquired immunodeficiency syndrome-related illness and receiving antiretroviral (ARV) therapy. MEASUREMENTS: Peak oxygen utilization (V[O.sub.2]peak) according to treadmill graded exercise testing, 6-MWD, grip strength, quadriceps maximum voluntary isometric contraction, cross-sectional area, muscle quality, and muscle adiposity. RESULTS: There was a moderate correlation between V[O.sub.2]peak (mean [+ or -] SD; 18.4 [+ or -] 5.6 mL/kg per minute) and 6-MWD (514 [+ or -] 91 m) (r=0.60, P CONCLUSION: Non-AIDS-related comorbidity predicts cardiorespiratory fitness in older HIV-infected men receiving ARV therapy. The 6-MWD is a valuable measure of fitness in this patient population, but a larger study with diverse subjects is needed. Author Affiliation: (*)Department of Medicine, School of Medicine ([double dagger])School of Nursing, University of Maryland, Baltimore, Maryland ([dagger])Baltimore Veterans Administration Medical Center, Baltimore, Maryland (s.)Department of Physical Therapy, College of Allied Health Sciences, East Carolina University, Greenville, North Carolina ([parallel])School of Physical Therapy, Ohio University, Athens, Ohio. Article note: Address correspondence to Krisann K. Oursler, Baltimore VA Medical Center, GRECC/BT 18, 10 North Greene Street, Baltimore, MD 21201. E-mail: koursler@grecc.umaryland.edu