Which age-related statement is supported by the data?

• A. Inflammatory bowel disease cats were significantly older
• B. Small cell lymphoma cats were significantly older
• C. No age difference was observed
• D. Age data were not collected

Answer: (B)

Age differences across disease groups reveal patterns in how diseases affect the life span of cats. In this dataset, cats diagnosed with small cell lymphoma showed a higher average (or median) age compared with other groups, and this difference was statistically significant. That means the older age observed in the small cell lymphoma group is unlikely due to random variation and likely reflects a real association between aging and this lymphoma subtype in the studied population. Because age data were collected and analyzed, the statement that small cell lymphoma cats were significantly older is the supported one. The other possibilities would require different patterns (for example, no difference or older inflammatory bowel disease cats), which the data do not indicate here.