Cognitive complaints are common adverse effects in cancer patients. Identifying subjects at risk could make it possible to limit their impact. We aimed to explore the relationship between current cognitive complaints and demographic and psychological factors in a group of breast cancer survivors. Through an online survey, cancer survivors reported current cognitive complaints using the FACT-Cog questionnaire (Perceived Cognitive Impairment) and answered questions about their demographics, lifestyle and cancer-related characteristics. Anxiety, depression, fatigue and post-traumatic stress symptoms were also assessed. We used multivariable logistic regression models to explore the relationships between current cognitive complaints and social and psychological factors. Among the 1393 breast cancer survivors, 47.2% (n = 657) reported current cognitive complaints. Chemotherapy (OR = 2.26, 95%CI = 1.67–3.05), age (OR_{21-44 vs. >65} = 0.14, 95%CI = 0.07–0.27), sleep difficulties (OR_{never vs. often} = 2.41, 95%CI = 1.47–3.95), frequency of psychotropic treatments (OR_{never vs. >1/week} = 1.70, 95%CI = 1.23–2.36), post-traumatic stress symptoms (OR = 2.05, 95%CI = 1.57–2.69) and employment status (OR_{full-time or part-time vs. sick leave} = 1.64, 95%CI = 1.08–2.49) were strongly associated with current cognitive complaints. In this large study, about half of breast cancer survivors reported cognitive complaints, particularly after chemotherapy. Some risk factors should be detected early to reduce persistent cognitive complaints after cancer: mainly sleep difficulties, post-traumatic stress symptoms and psychotropic medications.

To investigate whether marital status is associated to long-term major fatal and non-fatal cardiovascular events in men and women from the Gubbio Population Study. The incidence of cardiovascular disease (CVD), including stroke and coronary heart disease (CHD) and CVD death together with all-cause mortality were analyzed. The analysis included 2832 persons (44% men, 54 ± 11 years old). Marital status was defined at entry as married (married or living conjugally) versus unmarried subjects (widowed, separated, divorced or single). Married and unmarried subjects did not differ concerning socio-demographic, anthropometric and biological variables at baseline. Over 191 months median follow-up, the incidence of CHD was lower among married versus unmarried women [HR: 0.63 (95% CI 0.41–0.96)] only; the same was true for CHD mortality [HR: 0.43 (95% CI 0.22–0.84)] and all-cause mortality [HR: 0.75 (95% CI 0.59–0.96)] independently of traditional risk factors (age, SBP, total and HDL cholesterol, cigarette smoke and BMI). In men, marital status was not associated to any of the investigated outcomes. In primary care, marital status should be investigated as it can be associated with long-term CHD and all-cause incidence and mortality risks among women.