Middle aged people who have bad balance or who can not get up from a chair quickly may have a poorer chance of survival over the coming 13 years, new research suggests.

According to the findings, those with low levels of physical capability - particularly poor standing balance, a weak grip and slow chair rise speed - have a poorer chance of survival.

While previous studies have suggested a link between poor physical capabilities and lower survival rates, these have tended to focus on older people. UK researchers decided to look at this issue among younger adults.

They analysed data from an ongoing detailed health survey involving over 5,000 people. They looked at people when they were aged 53 and then followed up on them 13 years later, when they were 66.

The participants' physical capabilities were assessed during home visits.

The researchers found that those with the lowest physical capability levels recorded the highest rates of death from all causes over the next 13-year period, compared to those with the highest levels of physical capability.

The results stood even when other factors were taken into account, such as a less healthy lifestyle and a lower socioeconomic status.

Overall, those who could not perform any of the tests at the age of 53 were 12 times more likely to die over the coming years compared to people who could perform all tests.

"There are robust associations of standing balance time, chair rise speed and grip strength at age 53 with all-cause mortality rates over 13 years of follow-up," the researchers concluded.

They added that the use of these simple tests in middle-aged people may identify those who have a reduced chance of leading a ‘long and healthy life'.

Details of these findings are published in the British Medical Journal.