The introduction of Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy (HAART) has deeply changed the course of HIV infection with increase in survival and improvement in quality of life as well as partial restoration of the immune system. After about ten years from the HAART use, the effects of combination treatment / virus started to come out. Among these, we can mention changes in lipid metabolism with hypertriglyceridemia, hypercholesterolemia, insulin resistance, hyperglycemia and redistribution of body fat as risk factors for cardiovascular disease. Observational studies with people living with HIV / AIDS evidence that when an individual finds out that he/she is an HIV/AIDS patient, he/she end ups feeling fear or shame, reducing hence social circle, work and leisure activities, and becomes isolated at home or in small groups which have common identity of HIV / AIDS patients. The purpose of this work was to evaluate the relationship between the level of habitual physical activity and recreation of people living with HIV / AIDS and its relation with metabolic changes. The patients were classified into active and sedentary, using the Habitual Physical Activity questionnaire proposed by Baecke and validated for HIV / AIDS patients. Classification was conducted according to the recommendations of the American College of Sports Medicine. Metabolism was assessed through plasma levels of glucose, total cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol and triglycerides, using commercial kits. The sample consisted of 65 HIV patients who used HAART for at least five years. 64.6% were classified as sedentary and 35.4% as active. The study shows a direct relationship between physical activity level and higher levels of HDL -cholesterol in HIV / AIDS. HDL -Cholesterol is a lipoprotein of cardiovascular protection and, although other assessed parameters have not shown difference, these results highlight the need for additional studies on risk factors and physical activity for HIV / AIDS enabling proposals for specific interventions for these patients.

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Background: Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy (HAART) has changed the clinical picture of HIV infection by reducing morbidity and mortality rates in the population. However, alterations in lipid metabolism leading to hypertriglyceridemia, hypercholesterolemia, insulin resistance, hyperglycemia and redistribution of body fat, which are risk factors for cardiovascular diseases, have emerged. Metabolic Syndrome (MS) is a complex disorder represented by a set of cardiovascular risk factors commonly associated with central adiposity and insulin resistance. Aim: Current paper evaluates the prevalence of MS in patients with HIV/AIDS using HAART from a reference Center in southern Brazil. Methods: Samples comprised patients who had the infection for at least five years and were undergoing antiretroviral therapy. Metabolic syndrome was identified according to the National Cholesterol Education Program Expert Panel on Detection, Evaluation, and Treatment of High Blood Cholesterol in Adults (NCEP-ATPIII). A physical examination was performed by evaluating percentage of body fat by bio-impedance and measuring blood pressure, determination of Body Mass Index and Waist-Hip Ratio, glycaemia, total cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, LDL cholesterol and triglycerides. Results: 184 patients were evaluated. MS prevalence was 30% (55 patients), with 30 (16.3%) males and 25 (13.7%) females. Conclusions: Brazil was among the first country profoundly impacted by the HIV/AIDS epidemic but today, Brazil has less than 1% adult HIV prevalence, implemented treatment and prevention programs early in the epidemic. Whereas there is currently a significant increase in the survival of HIV patients by HAART, the patients reveal a higher prevalence of Metabolic Syndrome in this specific population requiring political strategy of care to this population.