Performance status

In medicate ( oncology and early fields ), performance status is an try to quantify cancer patients ‘ general wellbeing and activities of daily life. This measure is used to determine whether they can receive chemotherapy, whether venereal disease alteration is necessary, and as a bill for the want saturation of alleviative care. It is besides used in oncological randomized control trials as a measuring stick of quality of life .

Scoring systems [edit ]

There are assorted scoring systems. The most generally used are the Karnofsky score and the Zubrod score, the latter being used in publications by the WHO. For children, the Lansky score is used. Another park system is the easterly Cooperative Oncology Group ( ECOG ) system. Parallel scoring systems include the Global Assessment of Functioning ( GAF ) score, which has been incorporated as the fifth axis of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual ( DSM ) of psychiatry .

Karnofsky score [edit ]

The Karnofsky Performance Score ( KPS ) ranking runs from 100 to 0, where 100 is “ perfect ” health and 0 is death. Practitioners occasionally assign performance scores in between standard intervals of 10. This grade system is named after Dr. David A. Karnofsky, who described the plate with Dr. Walter H. Abelmann, Dr. Lloyd F. Craver, and Dr. Joseph H. Burchenal in 1948. [ 1 ] The primary function of its growth was to allow physicians to evaluate a affected role ‘s ability to survive chemotherapy for cancer.

  • 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 of their personal needs.
  • 50 – Requires considerable assistance and frequent medical care.
  • 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

ECOG/WHO/Zubrod score [edit ]

The Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group ( ECOG ) score ( published by Oken et al. in 1982 ), besides called the WHO or Zubrod score ( after C. Gordon Zubrod ), runs from 0 to 5, with 0 denoting perfect health and 5 death : [ 2 ] Its advantage over the Karnofsky scale lies in its ease.

  • 0 – Asymptomatic (Fully active, able to carry on all predisease activities without restriction)
  • 1 – Symptomatic but completely ambulatory (Restricted in physically strenuous activity but ambulatory and able to carry out work of a light or sedentary nature. For example, light housework, office work)
  • 2 – Symptomatic, <50% in bed during the day (Ambulatory and capable of all self care but unable to carry out any work activities. Up and about more than 50% of waking hours)
  • 3 – Symptomatic, >50% in bed, but not bedbound (Capable of only limited self-care, confined to bed or chair 50% or more of waking hours)
  • 4 – Bedbound (Completely disabled. Cannot carry on any self-care. Totally confined to bed or chair)
  • 5 – Death

Lansky grade [edit ]

Children, who might have more trouble expressing their know quality of life, require a reasonably more experimental grade system suggested and validated by Lansky et al. in 1987 : [ 3 ]

  • 100 – fully active, normal
  • 90 – minor restrictions in strenuous physical activity
  • 80 – active, but gets tired more quickly
  • 70 – greater restriction of play and less time spent in play activity
  • 60 – up and around, but active play minimal; keeps busy by being involved in quieter activities
  • 50 – lying around much of the day, but gets dressed; no active playing participates in all quiet play and activities
  • 40 – mainly in bed; participates in quiet activities
  • 30 – bedbound; needing assistance even for quiet play
  • 20 – sleeping often; play entirely limited to very passive activities
  • 10 – doesn’t play; does not get out of bed
  • 0 – unresponsive

comparison [edit ]

A translation between the Zubrod and Karnofsky scales that works specially well for healthy patients has been validated in a large sample of lung cancer patients : [ 4 ]

  • Zubrod 0–1 equals Karnofsky 80–100
  • Zubrod 2 equals Karnofsky 60–70
  • Zubrod 3–4 equals Karnofsky 10–50

References [edit ]

  • A table Archived 2008-12-02 at the Wayback Machine with the Karnofsky Performance Status.