ECOG performance status
Pronunciation: EE-cog
Also written as: ECOG — Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group
Standardized scale from 0-5 measuring a cancer patient's functional capacity and ability to perform daily activities.
Full Definition
The Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status is a widely used tool in oncology to assess how a patient's disease and treatment affect their daily functioning. The scale ranges from 0 (fully active, no restrictions) to 5 (dead), with intermediate levels describing varying degrees of functional impairment. ECOG scores are crucial for treatment decisions, clinical trial eligibility, and prognosis assessment. This standardized measure allows healthcare teams to communicate effectively about patient functional status and helps ensure appropriate care planning across different healthcare settings.
Usage
Usage note: ECOG is always capitalized; performance status scores should be written as numerals (0-5), not spelled out.
In Context
- "Patient eligibility required an ECOG performance status of 0 or 1." — Clinical trial protocol
- "The oncology EHR template includes mandatory ECOG performance status documentation." — Clinical documentation system