Performance status

Performance status is a measure used by physicians and researchers to assess how a patient's disease is progressing, how the disease affects the daily living abilities of the patient, and to determine appropriate treatment and prognosis.

Overview

Performance status is often used in oncology (the study of cancer) and is an attempt to quantify cancer patients' general well-being and activities of daily life. This measure can be used to determine whether patients can receive chemotherapy, whether dose adjustment is necessary, and to assess whether inclusion in a clinical trial is appropriate.

Scales

There are several scales used to measure performance status, including the Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) scale and the Karnofsky Performance Status scale.

Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) scale

The ECOG scale, also known as the Zubrod score, ranges from 0 to 5, with 0 denoting perfect health and 5 death. It is a simple scale that allows for easy comparison between patients.

Karnofsky Performance Status scale

The Karnofsky Performance Status scale ranges from 100 to 0, where 100 is "Normal, no complaints, no evidence of disease" and 0 is "Dead". The scale has been used to compare the effectiveness of different therapies and to assess the prognosis of individual patients.

Use in clinical trials

Performance status is often used in clinical trials to ensure that the results are applicable to the general population of patients with the disease. It is also used to determine eligibility for trials, as patients with a low performance status may not be able to complete the trial or may experience more severe side effects.

See also

• Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group
• Karnofsky Performance Status
• Clinical trial
• Oncology