Blood cadmium is not a predictor of carotid intima-media thickness in young adults from Padang, Indonesia

Abstract

Background: Cd exposure is a non-traditional risk factor of cardiovascular disease and mortality by promoting the development of atherosclerosis. There are many studies showings that environmental Cd exposure is associated with atherosclerosis in developed countries, however, there are still limited studies in developing countries. 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 the common and the internal carotid artery (CCA and ICA, respectively), in young adults from Padang, West Sumatera, Indonesia, and we analyzed whether blood Cd is a predictor of CIMT. Methods: The participants were 156 young adults, aged 18-24. Blood Cd was analyzed by using inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). CIMT was measured by ultrasonography of the left and right carotid artery. Multiple regression analyses were performed to identify predictors of CIMT. Results: The 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). To identify factors associated with CIMT, we performed a multivariable model including all relevant variables. Our model predicted 21.9% variation in CCA IMT, with sex as the best predictor (β=-0.438 [95% confidence interval (CI): -0.009 - -0.003]; p<0.001). The model for predicting ICA IMT, where 16.5% variation was accounted for, showed that sex was the best predictor (β=-0.529 [95% CI: -0.010 - -0.004]; p<0.001). Blood Cd was not a predictor of CCA IMT (adjusted R2=0.219; β=-0.101 [95% CI: -0.001-0.000]; p=0.203) and ICA IMT (adjusted R2=0.165; β=-0.055 [95% CI: -0.001-0.001]; p=0.503). Conclusion: Blood Cd level is not a predictor of CIMT in young adults from Padang, Indonesia.