Feeling healthy? New online test ‘predicts if you will die in the next five years’

A new online tool which claims to predict an individual’s likelihood of death with 80% accuracy has been launched. The test, for people aged between 40 and 70, uses a number of questions - including walking speed and number of cars owned - to judge their risk of dying in the next five years. It is based on research into half a million people carried out by two Swedish scientists, using more than 600 lifestyle variables to assess what can best predict mortality risk. They narrowed it down to 13 lifestyle questions for men and 11 for women, with the researchers claiming it is 80% accurate.

For most people, a high risk of dying in the next five years can be reduced by increased physical activity, smoking cessation and a healthy diet.

Dr Erik Ingelsson

Once users have finished the questionnaire, they are presented with a so-called Ubble aged based on their answers. A lower age than their own indicates good health, a higher one, less so. Users also receive a risk of death expressed as a percentage. This indicates how many people out of 100 of the same age and with similar answers will die within the next five years. Dr Erik Ingelsson, who was involved in the study, said: “In general, if your Ubble age is higher than your actual age, it could raise concerns and provide some incentive for lifestyle change.”

Walking fast would not decrease your risk of dying, but if you are walking slowly it could be a predictor of bad health - such as heart disease.

Dr Erik Ingelsson

Science predict die