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The Karnofsky Performance Scale Index allows patients to be classified as to their
functional impairment. This can be used to compare effectiveness of different therapies
and to assess the prognosis in individual patients. The lower the Karnofsky score, the
worse the survival for most serious illnesses.
KARNOFSKY PERFORMANCE
STATUS SCALE DEFINITIONS RATING (%) CRITERIA
| Able to carry on normal activity and to work; no
special care needed. |
100 |
Normal no complaints; no evidence of disease. |
| 90 |
Able to carry on normal activity; minor signs or symptoms of
disease. |
| 80 |
Normal activity with effort; some signs or symptoms of disease.
|
| Unable to work; able to live at home and care for most
personal needs; varying amount of assistance needed. |
70 |
Cares for self; unable to carry on normal activity or to do active
work. |
| 60 |
Requires occasional assistance, but is able to care for most of his
personal needs. |
| 50 |
Requires considerable assistance and frequent medical care. |
| Unable to care for self; requires equivalent of
institutional or hospital care; disease may be progressing rapidly. |
40 |
Disabled; requires special care and assistance. |
| 30 |
Severely disabled; hospital admission is indicated although death
not imminent. |
| 20 |
Very sick; hospital admission necessary; active supportive
treatment necessary. |
| 10 |
Moribund; fatal processes progressing rapidly. |
| 0 |
Dead |
References:
Crooks, V, Waller S, et al. The use of the Karnofsky Performance Scale in determining
outcomes and risk in geriatric outpatients. J Gerontol. 1991; 46: M139-M144.
de Haan R, Aaronson A, et al. Measuring quality of life in stroke. Stroke. 1993; 24:320-
327.
Hollen PJ, Gralla RJ, et al. Measurement of quality of life in patients with lung cancer in
multicenter trials of new therapies. Cancer. 1994; 73: 2087-2098.
O'Toole DM, Golden AM. Evaluating cancer patients for rehabilitation potential. West J
Med. 1991; 155:384-387.
Oxford Textbook of Palliative Medicine, Oxford University Press.
1993;109.
Schag CC, Heinrich RL, Ganz PA. Karnofsky performance status revisited: Reliability,
validity, and guidelines. J Clin Oncology. 1984; 2:187-193.
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