Acyclovir Use and Survival Among Human Immunodeficiency Virus-Infected Patients with CD4 Cell Counts of <500/mm3

To examine the relationship between acyclovir use and survival in AIDS, we performed a retrospective analysis of data collected through an observational cohort of the 17-site Community Program for Clinical Research on AIDS (CPCRA), under the sponsorship of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. Data were analyzed regarding 2,368 patients with CD4 + lymphocyte counts of <500/mm 3 , and 7,836 follow-up visits were conducted from September 1990 to July 1994. Factors associated with use of acyclovir were studied by stratified analysis of variance and Mantel- Haenzel χ 2 tests. The association between acyclovir and survival was studied with use of the proportional hazards regression model. Individuals reporting acyclovir use were more likely to be white, male, and homosexual; to have a history of herpes simplex and zoster; and to have lower CD4 + T cell counts than those who did not. After adjustments for differences in baseline factors, acyclovir use was not associated with prolonged survival.