ECOG Performance Status Calculator
The ECOG Performance Status Calculator estimates a patient’s level of impairment based on their ability to perform daily activities and self-care. This tool helps oncologists and medical professionals assess a patient's suitability for chemotherapy and clinical trials. Whether you are evaluating treatment tolerance, determining prognosis, or planning palliative care, this tool provides a standardized clinical score.
How ECOG Score Is Calculated
The ECOG Performance Status Score is determined through direct clinical observation rather than a mathematical formula. A healthcare provider evaluates the patient's daily activity levels and self-care capabilities. Based on this assessment, the patient is assigned to one of six standard categories ranging from "Fully Active" to "Deceased." Each category corresponds directly to an integer score from 0 to 5. This mapping allows for quick communication of a patient's functional capacity across different medical teams.
Assessment Guidelines
Key Considerations:
- Focus on the patient's status over the last week.
- Consider ability to work and perform self-care.
- Account for time spent up versus in bed/chair.
What Your ECOG Score Means
The ECOG score provides a standardized way to quantify a patient's general well-being and progression of disease. This number is crucial for determining eligibility for aggressive treatments versus palliative care approaches.
| Score | Clinical Meaning | Treatment Implication |
|---|---|---|
| 0 | Fully Active | Candidate for all aggressive therapies and clinical trials. |
| 1 | Restricted Strenuous Activity | Generally fit for most standard chemotherapy regimens. |
| 2 | Ambulatory, Limited Work | May require dose adjustments; trials often exclude Score > 2. |
| 3 | Limited Self-Care | Often considered for palliative treatments; poor trial candidate. |
| 4 | Completely Disabled | Focus on symptom management and comfort care. |
| 5 | Deceased | Assessment post-mortem or for record closure. |
Important: A lower score indicates better functional status. Patients with a score of 0-2 are typically considered candidates for cytotoxic chemotherapy, while those with a score of 3-4 are usually evaluated for supportive or palliative measures.
Calculation logic verified using publicly available standards.
View our Accuracy & Reliability Framework →