Performance status

ECOG performance status

Grade	Description
0	Fully active, able to continue with all pre-disease activities without restriction.
1	Restricted in physically strenuous activity but ambulatory and able to carry out work of a light or sedentary nature, e.g., light house work, office work.
2	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	Capable of only limited self-care. Confined to bed or chair more than 50% of waking hours.
4	Completely disabled. Cannot carry on any self-care. Totally confined to bed or chair.
5	Dead.

Karnofsky performance scale

Condition	Performance status %	Comments
Able to carry on normal activity and to work. No special care needed.	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.
Unable to work. Able to live at home and care for most personal needs. A varying degree of assistance is needed.	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 personal needs.
	50	Requires considerable assistance and frequent medical care.
Unable to care for self. Requires equivalent of institutional or hospital care. Disease may be progressing rapidly.	40	Disabled. Requires special care and assistance.
	30	Severely disabled. Hospital admission is indicated although death is not imminent.
	20	Hospitalization necessary. Very sick, active supportive treatment necessary.
	10	Moribund; fatal processes progressing rapidly.
	0	Dead.

Comparing Karnofsky performance scale & ECOG performance status

• Karnofsky score of 90-100% = ECOG performance status of 0
• Karnofsky score of 70-80% = ECOG performance status of 1
• Karnofsky score of 50-60% = ECOG performance status of 2
• Karnofsky score of 30-40% = ECOG performance status of 3
• Karnofsky score of 10-20% = ECOG performance status of 4
• Karnofsky score of 0% = ECOG performance status of 5

References

1. Oken MM, Creech RH, Tormey DC, Horton J, Davis TE, McFadden ET, Carbone PP. Toxicity and response criteria of the Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group. Am J Clin Oncol. 1982 Dec;5(6):649-55. link to original article PubMed
2. ECOG Performance Status (contains performance scale) Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group, Robert Comis M.D., Group Chair.
3. Schag CC, Heinrich RL, Ganz PA. Karnofsky performance status revisited: reliability, validity, and guidelines. J Clin Oncol. 1984 Mar;2(3):187-93. link to original article (contains performance scale) PubMed