Full Title: Consideration of Chronic Pulmonary Disease and Consumption of Sugar-Sweetened Beverages in the Dental Hygiene Care Plan

Authors: R. Constance Wiener, MA, DMD, PhD, CTTS, Elizabeth Southern Puette, RDH, MSDH, FADHA, Ruchi Bhandari, PhD, MPA, MBA

JDH Issue: February 2026

Program Track: Research

Abstract: Purpose: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a multifactorial disease/syndrome with epigenetic components and reduced quality of life. Sugar sweetened beverages (SSB) and COPD have been linked in studies with limited sample sizes or outside the United States(US). The purpose of this study was to determine whether the association remains in a large and representative sample of the US. Methods: Cross-sectional data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2015-2020, on adults >18 years (n=11,090) were utilized for this study. The dependent variable was COPD (yes, no) and the primary variable of interest was percent of daily sugar caloric intake from SSB reported on 24-hour dietary recall (<10%, =10%). Weighted bivariate analyses and logistic regression analyses were conducted, controlling for the complex sample design and potential confounders. Results: Overall, 8.6% of individuals reported COPD; 44.1% reported drinking SSBs. The percent of daily overall caloric intake from SSB was significantly associated with COPD in the multivariable logistic regression analysis (adjusted odds ratio=1.39 [95%CI:1.13, 1.72] p= 0.0027). Other factors associated with COPD were female sex, older age, poverty level, no insurance, current smoking, higher BMI, and race/ethnicity other than non-Hispanic white. Conclusion: In this nationally representative study, higher caloric intake from SSBs was significantly associated with COPD. Awareness of this relationship can aid in decision making when identifying priorities for nutritional counseling in the dental hygiene care plan. Communication of this information has the potential to benefit patients’ oral health, as well as their overall health and wellness.

Learning Objectives:

• Analyze the association between sugar-sweetened beverage (SSB) consumption and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in U.S. adults based on NHANES data.
• Evaluate key epidemiological factors and confounders influencing the relationship between SSB intake and COPD.
• Summarize implications of SSB consumption for dental hygiene nutritional counseling and interprofessional care planning.

CE Credit Hours: 2.0

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