Functional status of cancer / chronic-illness patients. Free to use.
Karnofsky PS (Karnofsky Performance Status) is a validated clinical instrument used to assess functional status of cancer / chronic-illness patients. The instrument contains 1 item.
Source / attribution: Karnofsky DA, Burchenal JH. In: MacLeod CM (ed). Evaluation of Chemotherapeutic Agents. New York: Columbia Univ Press, 1949: 191-205.
The instrument's primary construct — functional status of cancer / chronic-illness patients — is operationalized through a fixed set of items, each with a defined response format. This standardisation is what allows Karnofsky PS scores to be compared meaningfully across clinicians, sites, and studies.
Like all screening or assessment instruments, Karnofsky PS is a structured aid — not a diagnostic test in isolation. Results should be interpreted alongside history, examination, and clinical context. Where a score crosses an actionable threshold, the next step is typically a more detailed clinical evaluation rather than a definitive diagnosis.
Answer all 1 item below to see your Karnofsky PS score and interpretation.
Each item is scored on a 11-point scale (100–0). Your score updates live as you answer.
All scoring runs in your browser. No data is sent anywhere — close the tab and the answers are gone.
Karnofsky PS uses simple summation: each item's selected response is converted to a numeric value, and the values are added to produce a total score. Reverse-scored items are inverted before summation.
The cutoffs below are drawn from the published validation literature. Always interpret in clinical context.
| Score range | Band | Interpretation |
|---|---|---|
| 0–40 | Unable to care for self | KPS ≤ 40 — needs equivalent of institutional or hospital care. |
| 50–70 | Unable to work; lives at home | KPS 50–70 — needs varying levels of assistance. |
| 80–100 | Able to carry on normal activity | KPS 80–100 — can usually tolerate active treatment. |
This is an illustrative walkthrough, not a real patient. Follow the same four steps with your own answers — or use the live calculator at the top of this page.
Read each question and choose the response that best fits. Each response has a number next to it — that number is the item's score. The example below uses illustrative answers.
| # | Item | Example response | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Karnofsky score | 60 — Requires occasional assistance; cares for most personal needs. | 60 |
Add up all the item scores you noted in Step 1.
60 = 60
Find the row in the interpretation table whose range contains your total:
Total = 60 falls between 50 and 70 → Unable to work; lives at home
Unable to work; lives at home. KPS 50–70 — needs varying levels of assistance.
A score is one input alongside history and examination. Karnofsky PS supports clinical judgment — it does not replace it.
If Karnofsky PS doesn't fit your context, related instruments in oncology include:
| Scale | Measures | Items | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| ECOG PS | Functional status of cancer patients | 1 | — |
| PHQ-9 | Severity of depression | 9 | ≈ 3 minutes |
| GAD-7 | Severity of generalized anxiety | 7 | ≈ 2 minutes |
| AUDIT | 10-item WHO screening tool for hazardous alcohol consumption and dependence. | 10 | ≈ 3 min |
| CHA2DS2-VASc | Annual stroke risk in non-valvular atrial fibrillation | 8 | — |
| Glasgow Coma Scale | Level of consciousness after head injury | 3 | — |
| MELD-Na | 3-month mortality in advanced liver disease; transplant prioritization | 5 | — |
Karnofsky PS (Karnofsky Performance Status) is a validated instrument that assesses functional status of cancer / chronic-illness patients.
Karnofsky PS contains 1 item. Items are summed to produce a total score.
Scores of 80–100 fall in the "Able to carry on normal activity" band. KPS 80–100 — can usually tolerate active treatment.
Scores of 0–40 fall in the "Unable to care for self" band. KPS ≤ 40 — needs equivalent of institutional or hospital care.
Yes — Karnofsky PS is in the public domain and free for clinical, educational, and research use without permission.
Karnofsky DA, Burchenal JH. The clinical evaluation of chemotherapeutic agents in cancer. In: MacLeod CM (ed). Evaluation of Chemotherapeutic Agents. New York: Columbia University Press; 1949: 191-205.
No. Karnofsky PS is a structured assessment aid. A score is one input alongside history, examination, and clinical context. Treatment decisions should never rest on a screening score alone.
Karnofsky PS is supported by the following peer-reviewed sources: