You are here: Home / Prognostication / Performance Status

Performance Status

A performance status is a global measure of a patient’s functional capacity and has been shown to predict survival in patients near the end of life.

Several different performance status metrics have been developed to quantify performance status, and among them, the Karnofsky performance status (KPS) is the most often used. The KPS ranges from values of 100, signifying normal functional status with no complaints nor evidence of disease, to zero, signifying death. The complete spectrum of values for the KPS scale is reproduced below.

Karnofsky Performance Scale
%
 Description — Level of Functional Capacity
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
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 needs
50
 Requires considerale assistance and frequent medical care
40
 Disabled, requires special care and assistance
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
Source: Karnofsky, DA, Burchenal, JH. The Clinical Evaluation of Chemotherapeutic Agents in Cancer. Pg. 196. IN: MacLeod CM (Ed), Evaluation of Chemotherapeutic Agents. Columbia Univ Press, 1949.

Multiple studies have reported associations between patients’ performance status and their subsequent survival with lower performance status predicting shorter survivals. The size of the association is described differently in different studies depending on the statistical methods used, but several studies report that among patients enrolled in palliative care programs, a KPS of less than 50% suggests a life expectancy of fewer than 8 weeks (Evans 1985, Maltoni 1994,1995, Reuben 1988, Morita 1999, Llobera 2000).

The association between KPS value and survival in patients enrolled in palliative care programs is described in the table below.

Predictors of Survival with Advanced Cancer under Palliative Care

Index

Value

Median survival (d)

References
Karnofsky Performance Scale Status 10-20 7-16 3,6,14,16,27,28,35
30-40 8-50
50 50-90
Anorexia Present < 58 14,28,35
Confusion Present <38 28,35
Dysphagia Present <30 14
Dyspnea Present <30 14
Xerostomia Present <50 35

 
Translate »