The influence of physical activity on sleep quality in people living with HIV: a scoping review

Objective: To map the evidence on the effects of physical activity on sleep quality in people living with human immunodeficiency virus (PLHIV). Methods: A scoping review was conducted using PubMed, EMBASE, LILACS, Scopus, Web of Science, EBSCO Sport Discus/CINAHL, and Biblioteca Virtual em Saúde. Additionally, Google Scholar and OpenGrey servers were checked. There were no language or publication year restrictions for the search. Primary studies that evaluated the relationship between physical activity and sleep quality in PLHIV were included. Two researchers performed the analysis and selection of studies independently, following established criteria. Results: Nine studies were included, covering experimental, cross-sectional, and cohort studies. The results suggest that physical activity is associated with reduced sleep latency, longer sleep duration, and overall improvements in sleep efficiency and subjective perception of sleep quality. These results indicate that exercise-based interventions can be incorporated as complementary strategies to improve sleep in this population. However, methodological variability limits the generalization of the results. Future studies should focus on longitudinal designs and standardized assessment methods. Conclusion: Adequate physical activity levels appear to positively influence sleep quality in PLHIV.