3. In a multicenter surgical patient safety survey, a research team collected data on 200 patients with postoperative pulmonary infection. The gender and age distributions are shown in Table 2.16. For both male patients and female patients, the risk of postoperative pulmonary infection was highest for those aged 55–64 years, and female patients had a higher risk than male patients in this age group. Thus, the researchers argued that closer attention should be paid to female patients aged 55–64 years.

(a) Present the data using a graph.

(b) Is the researchers’ statement that closer attention should be paid to female patients aged 55–64 years correct? If not, what is the correct interpretation of these data? What data would you need to support the researchers’ statement?

(c) If the difference between male and female patients is of interest, how would you make a comparison between these groups? Why?