Research Article
Prevalence of Subjective Cognitive Decline and its Associated Factors in Adults Aged 30 and Above in an Underprivileged Urban Area of Delhi, India
Mondal A1, Bansal K2, Santra S1, Kumar A1, Jain S1, Gupta S1, Sahil Ahuja1, Srivastava N1, and Virender Prakash Gautam1*
1Department of Community Medicine, Vardhman Mahavir Medical College and Safdarjung Hospital
2Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health
2Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health
*Corresponding author:Dr. Virender Prakash Gautam, Department of Community Medicine, Vardhman Mahavir Medical College and Safdarjung Hospital, New Delhi, India. E-mail Id: drvpgautam@vmmc-sjh.nic.in
Article Information: Submission: 20/08/2025; Accepted: 12/09/2025; Published: 16/09/2025
Copyright: © 2025 Mondal A, et al. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
Abstract
Background and Objectives: Subjective cognitive decline (SCD) is an early warning sign of dementia and a significant contributor to disability among older adults. There is a lack of research on SCD among adults aged 30 years and above in urban underprivileged populations in North India. This study aimed to estimate the prevalence of SCD and examine its associations with socio-demographic and health-related factors.
Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 350 adults aged ≥30 years residing in a North Indian urban underprivileged community. SCD was assessed using the SCD-Q21 scale. Socio-demographic and co-morbidity data were obtained via a structured questionnaire. Associations were examined through chi-square test and multiple logistic regression analyses.
Results: SCD was present in 83 participants (23.7%). Prevalence was higher among illiterate individuals compared to those with higher education (34.2% vs. 13.8%) and among participants with co-morbidities versus those without (42.3% vs. 12.8%). Marital status was significantly associated with SCD (p < 0.001). In adjusted analyses, being unmarried (or corresponding marital status) was independently associated with higher odds of SCD (Adjusted OR, 3.24; 95% CI, 1.52–5.79), as was the presence of co‑morbid conditions (Adjusted OR, 3.08; 95% CI, 1.70–5.58).
Conclusions: Nearly one in four adults aged ≥30 years in this underprivileged urban setting report SCD. Given SCD’s potential progression to dementia, early routine screening particularly for unmarried individuals and those with co‑morbidities could enable preventive strategies to mitigate cognitive decline later in life.
Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 350 adults aged ≥30 years residing in a North Indian urban underprivileged community. SCD was assessed using the SCD-Q21 scale. Socio-demographic and co-morbidity data were obtained via a structured questionnaire. Associations were examined through chi-square test and multiple logistic regression analyses.
Results: SCD was present in 83 participants (23.7%). Prevalence was higher among illiterate individuals compared to those with higher education (34.2% vs. 13.8%) and among participants with co-morbidities versus those without (42.3% vs. 12.8%). Marital status was significantly associated with SCD (p < 0.001). In adjusted analyses, being unmarried (or corresponding marital status) was independently associated with higher odds of SCD (Adjusted OR, 3.24; 95% CI, 1.52–5.79), as was the presence of co‑morbid conditions (Adjusted OR, 3.08; 95% CI, 1.70–5.58).
Conclusions: Nearly one in four adults aged ≥30 years in this underprivileged urban setting report SCD. Given SCD’s potential progression to dementia, early routine screening particularly for unmarried individuals and those with co‑morbidities could enable preventive strategies to mitigate cognitive decline later in life.
Keywords: Subjective cognitive decline; dementia precursor; SCD Q21 scale