Palliative Care Score Calculator

Work out palliative care score instantly with clear inputs, formula shown and shareable results.

About Palliative Care Score Calculator

Sums the Palliative Prognostic Index components — performance status, oral intake, oedema, dyspnoea at rest and delirium — and reports the published survival bands.

Formula

Palliative Prognostic Index

PPS 10-20% = 4, 30-50% = 2.5, 60%+ = 0; oral intake severely reduced = 2.5, moderately reduced = 1; oedema = 1; dyspnoea at rest = 3.5; delirium = 4. PPI above 6 predicts under 3 weeks, above 4 under 6 weeks

Worked example

With the default values below, Palliative Care Score Calculator returns Palliative Prognostic Index of 7.00. Change any input above and every figure here is recalculated in your browser.

Inputs used

Palliative Performance Scale bandone of 60% or above (0 points), 30 to 50% (2.5 points), 10 to 20% (4 points): 30 to 50% (2.5 points)
Oral intakeone of Normal (0 points), Moderately reduced (1 point), Severely reduced (2.5 points): Moderately reduced (1 point)
Points for oedema, dyspnoea at rest and deliriumaccepts 0–8.5: 3.5

Results

Palliative Prognostic Index: 7.00
Prognostic band: Survival likely under 3 weeks
Performance and intake points: 3.50
Maximum possible score: 15

Step by step

1Values used
2Palliative Prognostic Index
3Palliative Prognostic Index= 7.00
4Prognostic band= Survival likely under 3 weeks
5Performance and intake points= 3.50
6Maximum possible score= 15

Assumptions and limits

The result is derived only from the 3 inputs listed above. Anything not among them is not part of the calculation.
In particular, this calculator does not take inflation, tax, fees or charges or compounding frequency into account.
Figures are rounded for display to 2 decimal places, so totals built from several rounded parts can differ slightly from the unrounded arithmetic.
Educational estimate only. Not a substitute for professional clinical judgement, and must not be used to make treatment or dosing decisions.

How these calculators are built and tested is described on the Methodology page. If a figure looks wrong, please report it.

Educational estimate only. Not a substitute for professional clinical judgement, and must not be used to make treatment or dosing decisions.

Frequently Asked Questions

How accurate is prognostication?

Clinician estimates are systematically optimistic, which is why structured indices are used alongside judgement.

Does the index change management?

It informs conversations about priorities of care and the timing of anticipatory prescribing rather than dictating treatment.