Anecdotal evidence re: E. Hillary
I’d really like to see the data of death age vs. life expectancy for the exact demographic represented by each successful summiter, as well as the cause of death.
That might tell a clearer story.
Now that I think of it, you're correct. You'd have to get all that stood on the peak and compare them to equally fit individuals but with same risk factors of smoke, drink and other health and familial maladies... then compare run the numbers.
I still think that the climbers select themselves out as being above the average for fitness and health. I just don't see a 300 lb. couch potato, smoking a cig, climbing out of mama's basement and away from his X-Box 360 then heading for Nepal.
So I guess the fitness of the climbers would be the more telling stat. I suppose then you'd have to consider the risk of the climb versus climbing safer peaks. .... and on and on it goes.