What is a 72-year-old woman in the United Kingdom most likely to die from?

1. 09Heart failure & other heart disease4.0%
   0.97% chance over 10 years · lifetime 7.0%
2. 10Breast cancer3.6%
   0.87% chance over 10 years · lifetime 2.5%
3. 11Pneumonia & flu3.2%
   0.77% chance over 10 years · lifetime 5.2%
4. 12Other causes3.1%
   0.75% chance over 10 years · lifetime 3.2%
5. 13Colorectal cancer3.1%
   0.74% chance over 10 years · lifetime 2.3%
6. 14Uterine & ovarian cancer2.8%
   0.67% chance over 10 years · lifetime 1.4%
7. 15Leukaemia & lymphoma2.6%
   0.62% chance over 10 years · lifetime 1.7%
8. 16Pancreatic cancer2.3%
   0.55% chance over 10 years · lifetime 1.2%
9. 17Other neurological disease (e.g. epilepsy)2.2%
   0.54% chance over 10 years · lifetime 1.2%
10. 18Other lung disease2.2%
    0.52% chance over 10 years · lifetime 2.9%
11. 19Falls1.5%
    0.37% chance over 10 years · lifetime 2.2%
12. 20Infections (e.g. sepsis, hepatitis, HIV)1.5%
    0.37% chance over 10 years · lifetime 1.6%
13. 21COVID-191.5%
    0.36% chance over 10 years · lifetime 1.8%
14. 22Parkinson's disease1.5%
    0.35% chance over 10 years · lifetime 1.3%
15. 23Diabetes1.3%
    0.30% chance over 10 years · lifetime 1.5%
16. 24Liver cancer1.2%
    0.28% chance over 10 years · lifetime 0.65%
17. 25Oesophageal cancer1.0%
    0.25% chance over 10 years · lifetime 0.61%
18. 26Bladder cancer0.74%
    0.18% chance over 10 years · lifetime 0.58%
19. 27Liver disease (incl. alcohol-related)0.70%
    0.17% chance over 10 years · lifetime 0.28%
20. 28Brain cancer0.67%
    0.16% chance over 10 years · lifetime 0.29%
21. 29Kidney disease0.62%
    0.15% chance over 10 years · lifetime 0.92%
22. 30Kidney cancer0.62%
    0.15% chance over 10 years · lifetime 0.39%
23. 31Mouth, throat & larynx cancer0.54%
    0.13% chance over 10 years · lifetime 0.30%
24. 32Stomach cancer0.48%
    0.12% chance over 10 years · lifetime 0.31%
25. 33Other accidents0.43%
    0.10% chance over 10 years · lifetime 0.59%
26. 34Melanoma (skin cancer)0.42%
    0.10% chance over 10 years · lifetime 0.27%
27. 35Cervical cancer0.22%
    0.05% chance over 10 years · lifetime 0.11%
28. 36Other injuries (incl. undetermined intent)0.14%
    0.03% chance over 10 years · lifetime 0.10%
29. 37Suicide0.13%
    0.03% chance over 10 years · lifetime 0.06%
30. 38Congenital conditions0.12%
    0.03% chance over 10 years · lifetime 0.06%
31. 39Other mental health conditions0.10%
    0.02% chance over 10 years · lifetime 0.09%
32. 40Accidental poisoning & overdose0.10%
    0.02% chance over 10 years · lifetime 0.04%
33. 41Road accidents0.09%
    0.02% chance over 10 years · lifetime 0.06%
34. 42Alcohol use disorder0.08%
    0.02% chance over 10 years · lifetime 0.03%
35. 43Drowning0.02%
    <0.01% chance over 10 years · lifetime <0.01%
36. 44Homicide<0.01%
    <0.01% chance over 10 years · lifetime <0.01%
37. 45Drug use disorder<0.01%
    <0.01% chance over 10 years · lifetime <0.01%
38. 46Complications around birth<0.01%
    <0.01% chance over 10 years · lifetime <0.01%

Some of these risks are about mental health and substances. They are among the most preventable — if you or someone you love is struggling, call Samaritans on 116 123 — free and confidential, any time (or findahelpline.com).