Subjective memory complaints: Prevalence, associated factors and sex differences in the ELSI‐Brazil study

Background Subjective memory complaints (SMCs) are a possible prodrome of cognitive decline but are understudied in low‐ and middle‐income countries (LMIC). We aimed to estimate the prevalence of SMCs in a large, nationally representative sample of older adults from Brazil and to identify sociodemographic and health‐related factors that are associated with SMCs independently of objective memory. Methods Baseline data (n = 7831) from the ELSI‐Brazil study, a national representative sample of adults aged 50 and over. They were asked to rate their memory and then divided into two groups ‐ having or not having SMCs. Logistic regression models were used to estimate the association of demographic characteristics, health related factors, objective memory performance and disability in basic (b‐ADL), instrumental (i‐ADL), and advanced (a‐ADL) activities of daily living associated with SMCs. Whether sex was an effect modifier of the association between age and objective memory performance and SMCs was also tested. Results Of the sample, 42% (95% CI; 39.9–43.9) had SMCs, and it was higher among women (46.9%) than men (35.9%). SMC prevalence decreased with age among women and increased among men, and for both it decreased with better cognitive performance. Fully adjusted logistic regression model showed that older age, higher education, higher b‐ADL scores, and better cognitive performance were associated with decreased SMCs, while being female, with higher number of chronic conditions, higher i‐ADL scores, worst self‐rated health, and an increased number of depressive symptoms were associated with increased SMCs. However, the interaction test (p