The Karnofsky Performance Status Score

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Karnofsky Performance Status Score The Karnofsky Performance Scale Index allows patients to be classified as to their functional impairment. The score is useful to follow the course of an illness (usually progressive deficit and ultimately death) and compare effectiveness of different therapies. It has also proven useful as a prognosticator: patients with the highest (best) Karnofsky scores at the time of tumour diagnosis have the best survival and quality of life over the course of their illness. (The lower the Karnofsky score, the worse the survival for most serious illnesses) 100 Normal, no evidence of disease 90 Able to perform normal activity with only minor symptoms 80 Normal activity with effort, some symptoms 70 Able to care for self but unable to do normal activities 60 Requires occasional assistance, cares for most needs 50 Requires considerable assistance 40 Disabled, requires special assistance 30 Severely disabled 20 Very sick, requires active supportive treatment 10 Moribund ArticleDate:20060704 SiteSection: Article