The Karnofsky Performance Status Scale (KPS) was designed to measure the level of patient activity and medical care requirements. It is a general measure of patient independence and has been widely used as a general assessment of patient with cancer.
Karnofsky performance status scale
| Value | Level of functional capacity | Definition |
| 100 | Normal, no complaints, no evidence of disease | Able to carry on normal activity and to work; no special care needed |
| 90 | Able to carry on normal activity, minor signs or symptoms of disease | |
| 80 | Normal activity with effort, some signs or symptoms of disease | |
| 70 | Cares for self, unable to carry on normal activity or to do active work | Unable to work; able to live at home and care for most personal needs; various degrees of assistance needed |
| 60 | Requires occasional assistance, but is able to care for most needs | |
| 50 | Requires considerable assistance and frequent medical care | |
| 40 | Disabled, requires special care and assistance | Unable to care for self; requires equivalent of institutional or hospital care; disease may be progressing rapidly |
| 30 | Severely disabled, hospitalization is indicated although death is not imminent | |
| 20 | Hospitalization is necessary, very sick, active supportive treatment necessary | |
| 10 | Moribund, fatal processes progressing rapidly | |
| 0 | Dead |
The Karnofsky score runs from 100 to 0, where 100 is “perfect” health and 0 is death.
References:
- Yates JW, Chalmer B, McKegney FP. Evaluation of patients with advanced cancer using the Karnofsky performance status. Cancer. 1980 Apr 15;45(8):2220-4. [Medline]
- Schag CC, Heinrich RL, Ganz PA. Karnofsky performance status revisited: reliability, validity, and guidelines. J Clin Oncol. 1984 Mar;2(3):187-93. [Medline]
Created: Jan 25, 2012
