Intimations of Mortality

Just when we thought it was possible to see beyond the gloom of winter, we’ve been hit with a series of whammies reminding us that death is certain; the only uncertainty is when, and the researchers are trying to remove that doubt. Consider:

1. Measuring a substance in the blood – the natriuretic peptide, or BNP – can help predict mortality among people with coronary heart disease (New England Journal of Medicine)

2. Blood levels of interleukin-6 (IL-6) and homocysteine are so-called ‘biomarkers’ predictive of death (Canadian Medical Association Journal)

3. Hospitalization for a serious illness, or death, of a spouse or partner is linked to increased mortality in older people (New England Journal of Medicine)

4. And finally, geriatricians in San Francisco have come up with a scoring system to tell baby boomers and older people what their chances are of dying in the next four years (Journal of the American Medical Association). You can take the test yourself, if you like, via the CNN website.

Of course, the answer to all of this is summed up in two words, which we hesitate to spell out yet again: h*a*t*y l*f*s*y*e.