Relative risk of myocardial infarction onset after cocaine use

Relative risk of myocardial infarction onset is plotted on a logarithmic scale for each of the three hours after cocaine use. Relative risks were estimated by comparing the frequency of cocaine use in each of the three hours before myocardial infarction onset to its expected frequency based on each patient's reported usual frequency of cocaine use over the prior year. Error bars indicate 95 percent CI. Dotted line represents baseline risk during periods of nonexposure to cocaine. The risk of myocardial infarction was increased 24 times over baseline in the first 60 minutes after cocaine use.