Figure 1.
Two-way ANOVA for lung regions in the apex, middle, and base (top left image) shows differences in mean transit time (MTT) (P = 0.038) and pulmonary blood volume (PBV) (P = 0.034; data not shown) between term and preterm groups and by lung region for PBV (P = 0.036). Although qualitatively lower in individuals born preterm, pulmonary blood flow shows no significant differences (data not shown) by group or lung region. Furthermore, Spearman correlation analysis revealed that MTT was moderately to significantly related to DlCO and cardiac index (CI), respectively. However, the data highlight a sex-dependent reduction in MTT (P = 0.009) (bottom left image) that is independent of birth status, likely owing to increased CI (P = 0.0035) (bottom right image), given that there were no sex differences in PBV (bottom middle image). Notably, we see males born prematurely exhibit lower PBV as compared with term-born males (P = 0.02). *P < 0.05.