Vagus insufficiency syndrome

Medically unexplained symptoms (MUSs), sometimes called persistent physical symptoms (PPSs), functional disorders, somatoform disorders, or central sensitization syndromes, are very common and one of the most difficult and costly problems facing healthcare systems. As the language used to describe them suggests, there is a poor understanding of the mechanism that links these persistent health symptoms and thus they remain unexplained, as physicians have a difficult time identifying the underlying pathology. These groupings of symptoms frequently are considered to have a psychological basis and specific organ-centered, anatomic approaches frequently are insufficient and ineffective.It is clear that a variety of physiological processes are linked in MUSs/PPSs. There is increasing evidence that autonomic nervous system dysregulation plays a role in a large subset of these patients. Specifically, vagus nerve dysfunction may be what leads to the development and persistence of these wide-ranging symptoms and may explain MUSs. It is termed vagus insufficiency syndrome.Addressing the burden of multimorbidity necessitates a transformative shift in our approach to patient care. Traditional models of healthcare delivery often struggle to adequately address the interconnected nature of multiple chronic conditions. Since emerging research suggests that multiple functional disorders are linked to autonomic dysfunction, stimulation or modulation of the vagus nerve may hold promise in addressing many of these symptoms. Recognizing the potential role of vagal insufficiency in the pathogenesis of MUSs offers new avenues for more targeted and effective strategies for improving patient outcomes.