title: Sex-specific effects of subjective memory complaints with respect to cognitive impairment or depressive symptoms.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to investigate the association between subjective memory complaints (SMC) and sex.
  
  
  METHODS
  We researched the prevalence of SMC in a sample of 394 participants who were at least 60 years of age (138 male and 256 female). We also administered the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) and the Center for Epidemiologic Studies for Depression (CES-D) scale. A multiple logistic regression analysis, which included SMC in association with the MMSE or CES-D scores and other confounding factors, was performed to determine the influence of sex on SMC. A P-value < 0.05 was considered statistically significant.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The durations of education of male participants were significantly higher than those of female participants. MMSE scores for female participants were significantly higher than those for male participants. There was no significant difference in CES-D scores between male and female participants. Twenty-four male participants and 72 female participants showed evidence of SMC. The incidence of SMC was more frequent in female participants than in male participants. In all participants, sex difference and CES-D score were significantly associated with SMC. In male participants, MMSE score was independently and significantly associated with SMC. Both in female participants and all participants, CES-D score was independently and significantly associated with SMC.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  SMC varied by sex and were associated with the degree of cognitive impairment in male participants, while they were associated with depressive symptoms in female participants.
authors.forename: Tetsu
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Tomita
authors.forename: Norio
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Sugawara
authors.forename: Ayako
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kaneda
authors.forename: Noriyuki
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Okubo
authors.forename: Kaori
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Iwane
authors.forename: Ippei
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Takahashi
authors.forename: Sunao
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kaneko
authors.forename: Norio
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Yasui-Furukori
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D015897:Comorbidity; D003863:Depression / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008568:Memory / Q000502:physiology*; D008569:Memory Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D008875:Middle Aged; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D015995:Prevalence; D012727:Sex Characteristics; D012737:Sex Factors