LIFETIME COCAINE USE AND CARDIOVASCULAR CHARACTERISTICS AMONG YOUNG-ADULTS - THE CARDIA STUDY

Objectives. Cocaine is a central nervous system stimulant associated w ith cardiovascular disease risk factors, morbidity, and mortality. Des pite these demonstrated relationships, it has been difficult to assess the long-term cardiovascular consequences of cocaine use. Methods. Th e Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults study provides an o pportunity to evaluate the association of lifetime cocaine use with ca rdiovascular disease risk factors in a randomly sampled biethnic cohor t of men and women of varied socioeconomic status, aged 20 to 32 in 19 87. Results. More extensive cocaine use experience was associated with being White, older, and less educated, regardless of sex. Higher leve ls of licit and illicit substance use behavior were reported by those reporting more extensive cocaine experience; however, most cardiovascu lar disease risk factors such as systolic and diastolic blood pressure , heart rate, hypertension, physical activity, and anthropometric meas urements were not related to lifetime cocaine experience. Conclusions. In this age group, the detrimental cardiovascular effects of cocaine may be limited to acute effects. Further studies are needed to determi ne whether continued exposure is related to cardiovascular disease ris k factors later in life.