鼾症命名之我见

国际睡眠障碍分类对阻塞性睡眠呼吸暂停综合征的命名和分类进行了两次修订，但中文仍沿用该命名，同时也存在多种命名。该命名揭示了本病的基础病因是阻塞性，必要背景是睡眠，主要临床特征是呼吸暂停和低通气，并且本病存在综合征表现。由于提示了本病的临床特征和诊断要点，使用该命名有其合理之处，但同时亦存在一定问题。表现在呼吸道并非真的阻塞，暂停的只是气流而非呼吸动力，呼吸暂停与低通气的定义和分界不明确，而本病各症状间相互关联，有明确的病因、发病机制、特征性的症状体征、规范的诊断标准和有效的治疗方法，因此作为一个明确而独立的疾病更为恰当。结合我国传统医学，以鼾症一词命名更为精练恰当。

Comments and opinions on the nomenclature of snoring disease

The International Classification of Sleep Disorders (ICSD) renamed and redefined the term ′obstructive sleep apnea hypopnea syndrome′ (OSAHS) in 2005 and 2014; however, Chinese nomenclature still retains the term OSAHS. The term OSAHS is suggestive of the basic obstructive etiology of snoring, a necessary background of sleep, ａ typical feature of apnea and hypopnea, and ａ manifestation of a syndrome. The naming of OSAHS also reveals the clinical characteristics and diagnostic points of the condition, which seems reasonable. However， the word also reduces some misunderstanding because there are no real obstruction of upper airway, no real stop of breathing, and no clear boundary between apnea and hypopnea. As OSAHS has a clearly defined etiology and mechanism, characteristic symptoms and signs, diagnostic criteria, and effective treatments, it should be considered as an independent disease rather than a syndrome. The nomenclature of snoring disease in traditional Chinese medicine is much more refined and appropriate than OASHS.