Coronary artery disease, left ventricular hypertrophy, and the risk of cocaine overdose death

Abstract

We assessed the relationship of coronary artery disease and left ventricular hypertrophy to the risk of cocaine overdose death.

We conducted a case-control study using data collected by medical examiners in Dade County, Florida, using logistic regression to calculate the odds of cocaine overdose death in relation to coronary artery disease and left ventricular hypertrophy.

Compared with decedents without coronary artery disease, the adjusted odds ratio (likelihood) of cocaine overdose death for decedents with coronary artery disease was 2.8 (95% confidence interval, 1.7 to 4.8). This relationship was stronger for decedents with severe coronary artery disease who had used alcohol and cocaine. Compared with decedents without left ventricular hypertrophy, the adjusted odds ratio of cocaine overdose death for decedents with left ventricular hypertrophy was 5.4 (95% confidence interval. 2.4 to 11.9).

These results suggest that persons with coronary artery disease or left ventricular hypertrophy are at an increased risk of cocaine overdose death and that the use of alcohol in combination with cocaine increases this risk even further.