Karnofsky Performance Status (KPS)

Karnofsky Performance Status (KPS) is a scale used by healthcare providers to evaluate a cancer patient's ability to perform everyday activities and their overall functioning. It ranges from 0 to 100, where higher scores indicate better functioning; for example, 100 means fully capable of normal activities, while lower scores indicate increasing disability, such as needing assistance or being unable to care for oneself. This assessment helps doctors determine a patient’s prognosis, plan treatment options, and monitor progress over time. It provides a standardized way to gauge how illness affects quality of life and daily functioning.