Everyone's Health

Gauging risk of death

If you're 50 or older, this test attempts to calculate your risk of death within four years, (about the test).

1. Age:
      60-64 years old, 1 point,
      65-69, 2 points,
      70-74, 3 points,
      75-79, 4 points,
      80-84, 5 points,
      85 and older, 7 points
   
   

2. Male or Female:
      Male, 2 points
   
   
3. Body-Mass Index:
      Less than 25 (normal weight or less), 1 point.
      Calculate BMI Here
      (Calculate by multiplying height in inches times height in inches;
      then divide weight in pounds by that total;
      then multiply the total by 703.)
   
   
4. Diabetes:
      2 points
   
   
5. Cancer (excluding minor skin cancers):
      2 points
   
   
6. Chronic lung disease that limits activities or requires oxygen use at home:
      2 points
   
   
7. Congestive heart failure:
      2 points
   
   
8. Cigarette smoking in the past week:
      2 points
   
   
9. Difficulty bathing because of a health or memory problem:
      2 points
   
   
10. Difficulty managing money, paying bills, keeping track of expenses because of a health or memoryproblem:
       2 points
    
    
11. Difficulty walking several blocks because of a health problem:
       2 points
    
    
12. Difficulty pushing or pulling large objects like a living room chair because of a health problem:
       1 point
    
    

    Score:

    
       0 to 5 points: less than a 4% risk of dying
       6-9 points, 15% risk
       10-13 points, 42% risk
       14 or more points, 64% risk
    
       Note: Researchers say the 1-point penalty for having a body-mass index under 25 (normal weight or less) is based on findings that being underweight is a health risk for elderly people. Source: San Francisco Veterans Affairs Medical Center

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