International Journal of Current Research and Review www.ijcrr.com Vol. 03 issue 08 August 2011 65 ijcrr Vol 03 issue 08 Category: Research Received on:02/05/11 Revised on:22/05/11 Accepted on:03/06/11 ABSTRACT Background and Objective: HIV infection is one of the chronic illnesses with an uncertain natural disease history. Exercise is well accepted as an adjunct therapy in the management of HIV. This study is intended to ascertain to see the effects of aerobic exercise on cardiovascular fitness and quality of life. Study Design: Pilot study Setting: Sneha Sadan HIV Home, Kaikamba. Outcome Measures: 3 Minute Step Test and MOS – HIV Health Survey Method: Fifteen HIV infected individuals were given aerobic exercise for 45 minutes, three days per week for three months after obtaining informed consent. Cardiovascular fitness and quality of life were assessed at the beginning and after three months of exercises. Result: The Mean ± SD before and after intervention for 3 minute step test is 3.60 ± 0.63 and 4.47 ± 0.74, for MOS – HIV Health Survey is 54.53 ± 8.44 and 63.80 ± 7.63 with p value equal to 0.001 for both outcome measures. Conclusion: This study concludes that aerobic exercises are effective for improving cardiovascular fitness and quality of life in HIV infected individuals. ______________________________________________________________________________ Key Words: HIV, Aerobic Exercise, Cardiovascular Fitness, Quality Of Life INTRODUCTION Acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) is defined as ―HIV infected person with CD4+ cell count below 200 cells / microlitre‖. 1 AIDS is a collection of symptoms and infections resulting from specific damage to immune system caused by human immunodeficiency virus. 2 The virus thought to be responsible for transmission of AIDS were identified as human immune deficiency virus. Human immune deficiency virus is a retro virus that infects vital organs of human immune system such as CD4+ T cells and macrophages. It infects primarily mononuclear cells and beta cells. When the virus enters the body, the condition is described as HIV infection. At this stage, the person may appear absolutely normal and may not be aware that this virus is present in the body. But when various opportunistic infections occur as a result of immune deficiency virus, is diagnosed as AIDS. 3 New data show global HIV prevalence and the percentage of people living with HIV have leveled off and that the number of new infections has fallen in part as a result of impact of HIV programmes. In 2007, 33.2 million people were estimated to be living with HIV. In EFFECT OF AEROBIC EXERCISES ON CARDIO VASCULAR FITNESS AND QUALITY OF LIFE IN PEOPLE WITH HIV/AIDS Vaiyapuri Anandh 1 , Ivor Peter D‘Sa 2 , Vandana J. Rathod 3 , Jagatheesan Alagesan 3 1 Saveetha College of Physiotherapy, Saveetha University, Chennai 2 Department of Medicine, KSHEMA, Nitte University, Mangalore 3 K J Pandya College of Physiotherapy, Sumandeep Vidyapeeth, Vadodara E-mail of corresponding author: anandh.physio@gmail.com