Blood Cd levels and carotid intima-media thickness in young adults living in Padang, Indonesia

OBJECTIVE: Cd exposure is a non-traditional risk factor of cardiovascular disease and mortality by promoting the development of atherosclerosis. The development of atherosclerosis can be monitored non-invasively by measuring carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT). This study aimed to measure the level of blood Cd and other factors known to be associated with CIMT, measured at the segment of common carotid artery (CCA) and of internal carotid artery (ICA), in young adults from Padang, West Sumatera, Indonesia, and we analyzed whether blood Cd is a predictor of CIMT. RESULTS: We recruited 156 subjects. Median blood Cd level was 0.61 μg/L (range 0.01–5.96 μg/L), with no difference in male compared to female subjects (Mann–Whitney U test, p = 0.60). Multiple regression analysis showed that sex is the predictor of CCA IMT (adjusted R(2) = 0.219; β = −0.438 [95% CI − 0.662, − 0.214]; p < 0.001) and ICA IMT (adjusted R(2) = 0.165; β = − 0.529 [95% CI − 0.761, − 0.297]; p < 0.001). Blood Cd was not a predictor of CCA IMT (adjusted R(2) = 0.219; β = − 0.101 [95% CI − 0.257, 0.055]; p = 0.203) and ICA IMT (adjusted R(2) = 0.165; β = − 0.055 [95% CI − 0.217, 0.107]; p = 0.503) in young adults from Padang, Indonesia.