Intermediate
Technical
In the Industry Vocabulary Test
performance status
A standardized measure of a cancer patient's general well-being and ability to carry out daily activities.
Full Definition
Performance status is a clinical assessment tool used to evaluate a cancer patient's functional capacity and overall condition. The most common scales are the ECOG (0-4) and Karnofsky (0-100) performance status scales. These assessments help oncologists determine treatment eligibility, predict outcomes, and make clinical trial enrollment decisions. Performance status serves as a critical prognostic indicator and influences treatment intensity recommendations.
Usage
Usage note: Capitalize when referring to specific scales (ECOG Performance Status, Karnofsky Performance Status).
In Context
- "The patient's declining performance status precluded enrollment in the clinical trial." — Clinical note
- "Performance status assessment should be documented at each visit to track disease progression." — Treatment protocol
Also known as
functional status
PS
Don't confuse with
quality of life
symptom burden