🚶 Karnofsky Performance Status
UsePrognostication and treatment decisions in oncology and palliative care.
SourceKarnofsky DA, Burchenal JH. 1949
This-shift next steps
After scoring: open the scene pack, peer scores, and the matching pathway. Local reference — no HIS write.
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Methodology · worked example, guidelines & full notes
Higher scores indicate better function.
When to use
Prognostication and treatment decisions in oncology and palliative care.
How it works
100 normal … 50 needs considerable assistance … 0 dead, in steps of 10.
Key points
- Higher scores indicate better function.
- Often mapped to ECOG status.
- Used in eligibility and prognostic models.
References
Worked calculation
The values below come from this tool's own example placeholders and are computed server-side with the formula shown on this page, so the arithmetic can be checked quickly. It demonstrates how to substitute values only — it is not clinical advice and not a real case.
| Karnofsky score | 50 — Needs considerable assistance |
|---|
→Karnofsky50/100
- Interpretation：Unable to work; lives at home with varying assistance.
| Karnofsky score | 100 — Normal, no complaints |
|---|
→Karnofsky100/100
- Interpretation：Able to carry on normal activity.
Verification & sources · governance
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
- What are the limits and cautions when using Karnofsky Performance Status?
- For licensed clinicians and clinical researchers. Interpret results with history, investigations and local protocols; not a diagnosis or prescription, and not a substitute for multidisciplinary decision-making or local guidelines.
- Does Karnofsky Performance Status upload patient data? Where is it calculated?
- Calculation runs locally in the browser; inputs and results are not uploaded. For licensed clinicians only; interpret with history, investigations and local protocols — not a diagnosis or prescription.
- How is Karnofsky Performance Status calculated in practice? Can you show a worked example?
- Inputs: Karnofsky score 50 — Needs considerable assistance → Result: Karnofsky 50 /100（Interpretation: Unable to work; lives at home with varying assistance.） Inputs: Karnofsky score 100 — Normal, no complaints → Result: Karnofsky 100 /100（Interpretation: Able to carry on normal activity.）