Karnofsky Performance Status eCRF template
Eleven levels from 100 (normal, no complaints) to 0 (dead), rated by the clinician. The KPS gives finer steps than ECOG and is the standard performance measure in brain tumour, transplant and some radiotherapy trials.
- Public domain
- 0 to 100 in steps of 10
- Eligibility check at entry
Free sandbox · No credit card · 21 CFR Part 11 aligned
Karnofsky Performance Status
KPSBelow the protocol minimum of 70: eligibility query raised
At a glance
- Described by David Karnofsky and colleagues in 1948; the KPS is in the public domain.
- Eleven levels from 100 (normal, no complaints) to 0 (dead) in steps of 10.
- Three broad bands: 80 to 100 able to carry on normal activity and work; 50 to 70 unable to work but able to live at home and care for most personal needs; 0 to 40 unable to care for self.
- Common eligibility thresholds are KPS 60 or 70 and above, particularly in neuro-oncology.
- For children under 16, the Lansky Play-Performance Scale uses the same 0 to 100 range with play-based descriptions.
In trials
Karnofsky or ECOG?
Both scales describe how disease affects a person's ability to function, and both predict outcomes. ECOG has six levels and is quicker; Karnofsky has eleven and separates people more finely in the middle of the range. Oncology trials mostly use ECOG, while trials in brain tumours, stem cell transplantation and some radiotherapy settings traditionally use KPS, partly because historical data and prognostic models are built on it.
Use the scale your protocol and your prior data use, and do not convert between them at entry. If both are needed, collect both. The ECOG template includes an approximate mapping for reference.
Eligibility
Where KPS is an inclusion criterion, a custom-value edit check can raise a query as soon as a value below the threshold is entered, so the site checks eligibility before enrolment rather than after.
Edit checks / auto-queries
2Type
Range High
Operator
Greater than
Value
180
Priority: High
Type
Range Low
Operator
Less than
Value
80
Priority: Normal
Query raised automatically
Value 192 violates limit (180). Please verify.
Scale
Karnofsky Performance Status levels
| KPS | Description |
|---|---|
| 100 | Normal; no complaints; no evidence of disease |
| 90 | Able to carry on normal activity; minor signs or symptoms |
| 80 | Normal activity with effort; some signs or symptoms |
| 70 | Cares for self; unable to carry on normal activity or active work |
| 60 | Requires occasional assistance but able to care for most needs |
| 50 | Requires considerable assistance and frequent medical care |
| 40 | Disabled; requires special care and assistance |
| 30 | Severely disabled; hospitalisation indicated though death not imminent |
| 20 | Very sick; hospitalisation and active supportive treatment necessary |
| 10 | Moribund |
| 0 | Dead |
In Capture
One field, the full descriptions, and an eligibility check
The KPS is a dropdown showing each level with its description, stored as a coded value. A custom-value edit check can raise an auto-query when a value falls below your threshold, and the audit trail records who rated it and any later change.
- Descriptions shown with each option.
- Eligibility query at entry.
- Rated at screening and every assessment visit.
Add KPS with an eligibility check
Copy the template and set your threshold in the free sandbox.
Reliability
Making KPS ratings consistent
KPS depends on clinical judgement, and different raters can differ by 10 points or more for the same patient, especially in the middle of the scale. Show the full description for each level on the form rather than bare numbers, rate from the participant's actual function over a defined recent period, and keep the same rater where possible.
In trials where KPS decline is itself an outcome, such as some glioblastoma studies, record the date of each assessment precisely and define what counts as a sustained decline in the analysis plan.
Children: the Lansky scale
The Lansky Play-Performance Scale uses the same 0 to 100 range in steps of 10 but describes play and activity rather than work, and is usually rated with input from a parent. Paediatric protocols often use Lansky below age 16 and Karnofsky from 16; state the switch rule so scores stay comparable.
Before go-live
KPS setup checklist
Scale chosen
KPS, ECOG or both, matching prior data.
Descriptions on the form
Full level descriptions, not numbers alone.
Eligibility check
Custom-value check at the protocol threshold.
Children
Lansky scale for participants under 16.
Schedule
Screening and each assessment visit.
Decline definition
In the analysis plan if KPS is an outcome.
What does a KPS of 70 mean?
The person cares for themselves but cannot carry on normal activity or do active work. 70 is a common minimum for trial eligibility.
How often should KPS be assessed?
At screening and each assessment visit, and whenever the protocol uses it for treatment decisions.
What is the Karnofsky Performance Status?
A clinician-rated scale of functional ability from 100 (normal) to 0 (dead) in steps of 10.
What KPS is required for trials?
Common thresholds are 60 or 70 and above, but each protocol sets its own.
Is the KPS free to use?
Yes. It is in the public domain.
How does KPS compare with ECOG?
Both measure performance status. KPS has eleven levels and ECOG six; approximate mappings exist but the scales do not correspond exactly.
Is there a version for children?
Yes. The Lansky Play-Performance Scale is used for children under 16.
Can the eCRF flag ineligible scores?
Yes. A custom-value edit check can raise a query when the value is below the protocol threshold.
Keep exploring
Related pages
Performance status, checked at entry
Public-domain KPS with eligibility queries. Free sandbox.