The Use of the Karnofsky Performance Scale in Determining Outcomes and Risk in Geriatric Outpatients

Abstract

The Karnofsky Performance Scale (KPS) was evaluated in a geriatric outpatient population with regard to three issues: its strength of association with widely used and validated geriatric instruments; its ability to predict patient outcomes; and its ability to serve as an identifier of high-risk patients. The 134-patient sample was given a comprehensive geriatric assessment which included the KPS, the Activities of Daily Living (ADL) scale, the Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (IADL) scale, and other psychosocial and sensory tests. The KPS, ADL, and IADL were significantly correlated with each other, and the KPS showed the strongest associations with other functional measures. The KPS was also highly predictive of outcomes, performing better or equally well as the ADL and IADL. The KPS designation of high- and low-risk groups resulted in statistically significant score differences between groups in all but one assessment area, demonstrating better ability to discriminate than either the ADL or IADL. Thus, the KPS was shown to serve as an effective proxy score for a patient's health and functional status. It also was a significant predictor of hospitalizations, survival time, community residence, and institutionalization. Finally, the KPS was shown to adequately distinguish risk groups to aid in the targeting of services to ambulatory geriatric patients.

Short-Term Effect of Aerobic Exercise on Symptoms in Multiple Sclerosis and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

“…The ANCOVA was performed with a Greenhouse-Geisser correction, and statistical significance is reported inclusive of a Bonferroni correction. For variables where significant group/ to have a Karnofsky performance score of 50 to 80 (ie, "requires occasional assistance, but is able to care for most of his personal needs" to "normal activity with effort; some signs or symptoms of disease"), 17 indicative of moderate disability. Participants were eligible if they had an International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) 18 score indicating low or moderate physical activity.…”

Proposed primary endpoints for use in clinical trials that compare treatment options for bloodstream infection in adults: a consensus definition

“…Unfortunately, it is difficult to get a reliable measure of pre-antibiotic quality of life since BSI is an unexpected event, although a measure of "functional status" (e.g. the Karnofsky score [6]) may be more readily determined pre-BSI. The panel concluded that such measures are clearly important for patients, but lack sufficiently robust measurements at the present time to permit their use as primary endpoints, but may be suitable for secondary endpoints.…”

Home management of hematological patients requiring hospital admission

“…For each patient, general data (gender and age), mean length of stay, number of illnesses, admission functional status (activities of daily living = ADL, instrumental activities of daily living = IADL, Karnofsky performance status) (Katz et al, 1963;Lawton and Brody, 1969;Crooks et al, 1991), comorbidity level (Cumulative Illness Rating Scale = CIRS) (Conwell et al, 1993) and severity of diseases (acute physiology and chronic health evaluation = APACHE II) (Knaus et al, 1985) were collected from the clinical records. Laboratory data such as hemoglobin, white blood cell count, platelet count and albumin were collected too.…”