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 Release 21.0, Jan 2008
 
The Medical Algorithms Project
Chapter : ch1. Performance Measures & Quality of Life Section : Karnofsky Performance Scale and Related Status Scales
  Karnofsky Performance Scale Index

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Copyright (c) 2006-2007, Institute for Algorithmic Medicine, Houston, TX, USA. All rights reserved.

Overview :

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. Other similar scales of performance status include the Zubrod , TNM and AJC-ECOG scales.

 

General Category Description

Specific Criteria

Index

able to carry out normal activities; no special care required

normal; no evidence of disease and no physical complaints

100

 

able to carry on normal activities but has minor signs or symptoms of disease

90

 

normal activity with effort; some signs or symptoms of disease

80

unable to work; able to live at home and care for most personal needs; varying amounts of assistance needed

unable to carry on normal activities or to work, but able to care for self

70

 

requires occasional assistance from others but able to care for most needs

60

 

requires considerable assistance from others and frequent medical care

50

unable to care for self; requires institutional or hospital care or equivalent; disease may be rapidly progressing

disabled; requires special care and assistance

40

 

severely disabled; death not imminent; stay in hospital indicated

30

 

very sick; necessary to be in hospital; active supportive treatment necessary

20

 

moribund

10

 

dead

0

[after Table 1, page 386, O'Toole (1991)]

 

  References:

Brezinski D, Stone PH, et al. Prognostic significance of the Karnofsky performance status score in patients with acute myocardial infarction: Comparison of the left ventricular ejection fraction and the exercise treadmill test performance. Am Heart J. 1991; 121:1374-1381.

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.

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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