What Karnofski Scores Mean
SCORE Definition
100 Normal, no complaints, no signs of disease
90 Capable of normal activity, few symptoms or signs of disease
80 Normal activity with some difficulty, some symptoms or signs
70 Caring for self, not capable of normal activity or work
60 Requiring some help, can take care of most personal requirements
50 Requires help often, requires frequent medical care
40 Disabled, requires special care and help
30 Severely disabled, hospital admission indicated but no risk of death
20 Very ill, urgently requiring admission, requires supportive measures or treatment
10 Moribund, rapidly progressive fatal disease processes
Why are these important?
A doctor will use these to assess the general state of a patient's health and ability to function. Many clinical trial will only accept those with K scores of 70 and above. Also, a person's K score may help the family decide when hospice might be appropriate.