Abstract
Multiple Chemical Sensitivity (MCS) is a chronic and/or recurrent condition with somatic, cognitive, and affective symptoms following a contact with chemical agents whose concentrations do not correlate with toxicity in the general population. Its prevalence is not well defined; it mainly affects women between 40 and 50 years, without variations in ethnicity, education and economic status. We aimed to assess the core symptoms of this illness in a sample of Italian patients. Two physicians investigated different symptoms with a checklist compilation in 129 patients with MCS (117 women). We conducted a categorical Principal Component Analysis (CATPCA) with Varimax rotation on the checklist dataset. A typical triad was documented: hyperosmia, asthenia, and dyspnoea were the most common symptoms. Patients also frequently showed cough and headache. The CATPCA showed seven main factors: 1, neurocognitive symptoms; 2, physical (objective) symptoms; 3, gastrointestinal symptoms; 4, dermatological symptoms; 5, anxiety-depressive symptoms; 6, respiratory symptoms; 7, hyperosmia and asthenia. Patients showed higher mean prevalence of factors 7 (89.9%), 6 (71.7%), and 1 (62.13%). In conclusion, MCS patients frequently manifest hyperosmia, asthenia, and dyspnoea, which are often concomitant with other respiratory and neurocognitive symptoms. Considering the clinical association that is often made with anxiety, more studies are necessary on the psychosomatic aspects of this syndrome. Further analytical epidemiological studies are needed to support the formulation of aetiological hypotheses of MCS.
Highlights
Multiple chemical sensitivity (MCS) syndrome is a medically unexplained condition characterized by the appearance of symptoms in various organs and systems when the subject is exposed to odours of chemicals that are usually present in the environment at concentrations that are not related to hypersensitivity in the general population [1,2,3,4]
In line with existing evidence [7,8], we found that females showed higher prevalence than males; the most frequent symptom was hyperosmia, reported by 96.9% of the sample, followed by asthenia showed in 82.9% of patients
We found that hyperosmia and asthenia were significantly grouped together, constituting the most represented cluster of symptoms, followed by respiratory, and neurocognitive symptoms
Summary
Multiple chemical sensitivity (MCS) syndrome is a medically unexplained condition characterized by the appearance of symptoms in various organs and systems when the subject is exposed to odours of chemicals that are usually present in the environment at concentrations that are not related to hypersensitivity in the general population [1,2,3,4]. MCS patients related such reactions to exposure to such different chemicals as solvents, hydrocarbons, organophosphates, and heavy metals. Common MCS symptoms are hyperosmia, weakness, lethargy, sore throat, dyspnoea, headache, and difficulties in concentration [1,5]. MCS prevalence is not well defined, probably since it is not a universally recognized diagnostic typology [6]; 40–50-year-old women are most affected [7,8], among whom there are no differences in ethnicity, education and economic status [9]
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