Distinct prevalence of subjective cognitive decline among different brazilian regions, sex and gender

Background: Subjective Cognitive Decline may represent the earliest clinical manifestation of the Alzheimer’s continuum. A continental-size country like Brazil demands regionalized strategies to provide adequate public health strategies. Objectives: To analyze the prevalence of SCD in Brazilian regions, sex and genders. Methods: Data was gathered from a complex-sample epidemiological study named ELSI (Estudo Longitudinal da Saúde de Idosos). SCD criteria was applied within the dataset. Weighting for complex-sampling was performed. Data was analyzed according to national region, sex and gender. Results: Overall nationwide prevalence of SCD was 15.48%. Prevalence of SCD was the highest in Midwest (19.9%), followed by Northeast (17%), North (16.9%), South (14.6%) and Southeast (14.2%, p <0.0001). Among adults, males in the North showed the highest prevalence of SCD (27.5%), while the lowest prevalence was in females in the Southeast (14.4%). Among older adults, the highest prevalence was in females in the North (19.2%), while females in the Southeast showed the lowest (11.2%). Prevalence of SCD was statistically similar in females and males (15.6% vs. 16.1%, p=0.6). Conclusions: Brazil exhibits distinct profiles of SCD according to regions, sex and genders that should be analyzed by policymakers in public health. The Midwest presented the highest prevalence of SCD. Individually, male adults and female older adults in the North presented the highest prevalence in Brazil.