Medical Diagnostics & Clinical Scoring

Karnofsky Performance Status Scale

Determine the Karnofsky Performance Status (KPS) to quantify an oncology patient's functional impairment and determine prognosis.

Karnofsky Score
100
InterpretationAble to work

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Clinical Overview

The Karnofsky Performance Status (KPS) scale is a widely utilized metric in oncology and palliative care. By assigning a score from 0 to 100, clinicians can objectively track the trajectory of a patient's functional decline or recovery.

Pathophysiology & Evidence

Performance status is an independent predictor of mortality in almost every oncologic setting. Patients with a KPS < 70 generally have higher toxicity rates from chemotherapy and poorer overall survival, often prompting a shift toward palliative care rather than curative intent therapies.

Formula Breakdown

Score = Subjective Functional Assessment (0 - 100)

The scale is divided into three brackets:

  • 80-100: Able to carry on normal activity.
  • 50-70: Unable to work; requires varying amounts of assistance.
  • 0-40: Unable to care for self; requires institutional or hospital care.

Frequently Asked Questions

It is used to quantify the functional impairment of patients with cancer or other chronic illnesses. It helps determine a patient's prognosis and whether they can tolerate aggressive therapies like chemotherapy.

Karnofsky runs from 100 (normal) to 0 (dead) in intervals of 10. ECOG runs from 0 (normal) to 5 (dead). Both serve the same clinical purpose.

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