A classification used for describing the status of cancer patients. The World Health Organization (WHO) defines performance status in terms of the following grade levels: 0 – able to carry out all normal activity without restriction; 1 – restricted in physically strenuous activity but ambulatory and able to do light work; 2 – ambulatory and capable of self-care but unable to carry out any work; 3 – capable of only limited self-care confined to bed or chair 50% or more of waking hours; and 4 – completely disabled and cannot carry on any self-care.
The physical status of a patient (Karnofsky scale, ECOG scale), which represents the level of activity.
The performance status semi-quantifies the ability of a patient to perform daily activities. This semi-quantification is very helpful in clinical trials in assessing the state of health of patients under treatment. If one group has a significant difference in their performance status, the interpretation of treatment results will be influenced. The performance status also plays a role in determining whether a patient can tolerate intensive therapy. The following short version of the definition of activities level describes the performance status in terms of a scale decreasing from normal activities and capabilities. Other versions use percent of normal as an indicator. Status Definition Normal Activity Symptoms but ambulatory In bed 50 percent of time In bed greater than 50 percent of time 100 percent bedridden
Performance status (sometimes referred to as Karnofsky's) is used to describe a person's ability to do everyday activities such as eating, walking, bathing, etc.
A measurement of how well a cancer patient is functioning. Index numbers from 0 to 100, increasing in steps of 10, are used to document and record functional status, as opposed to other measurements that indicate the size of the tumor. A person with a performance score of 80 functions better than one with a score of 50.
A measure of how well a patient is able to perform ordinary tasks and carry out daily activities. Two tools commonly used to measure performance status include the Karnofsky scale and the ECOG scale.
A global measure of a patient's function and/or level of disability, e.g. including the World Health Organisation (WHO) scale, the Karnovsky scale and the Zubrod scale, as used by the Eastern Co-operative Oncology Group (ECOG).
A way of describing how much you are able to do. The most common is the World Health Organisation scale. It rates fully active as 0 and bedridden as 4.
1. A measure of the level of activity of which a patient is capable. 2. By implication, a measure of the severity of disease. See ECOG Status and Karnofsky Status.
Performance status is used to describe a person’s ability to do everyday activities such as eating, walking, bathing, etc. There are also scales that can be used to specifically quantify status.
In medicine (oncology and other fields), performance status is an attempt to quantify cancer patients' general wellbeing. This measure is used to determine whether they can receive chemotherapy, whether dose adjustment is necessary, and as a measure for the required intensity of palliative care. It is also used in oncological randomized controlled trials as a measure of quality of life.