The aim of this research was to investigate the existence of associations between habitual physical activity and cardiovascular risk in people living with HIV; and to identify self-perceived barriers to physical activity. The sample of 104 subjects was composed of people living with HIV and treatment for at least 6 months in a Specialized Care Service. Baeck's survey, a self-perceived barrier questionnaire, medical records, and equations from Framingham's Cardiovascular Disease were used. Linear regression models were used to investigate the association between Habitual Physical Activity score (HPA) and predicted cardiovascular risk, and descriptive statistics to investigate prevalence of self-perceived barriers. In the first model (r² = 0.212, F = 4.34, p < 0.001), increasing 1 point in the HPA score predicts the decrease by 1.04 percentage points (p.p.) Cardiovascular risk for the next 10 years. In the second model (r2 = 0. 244, F = 4. 99, p < 0.001), increase one point the HPA score decreases by 3.729 p.p. Predicted cardiovascular risk for the next 30 years. The results confirmed an inverse association between HPA and predicted cardiovascular risk in PLHIV.
Keywords: HIV/AIDS; lifestyle; physical activity; public health; socioeconomic factors.