Skip to content
Calculator

CURB-65 Pneumonia Severity Score

Confusion
(defined as an Abbreviated Mental Test score (AMT) of 8 or less, or new disorientation in person, place or time).

Urea >7 mmol/L (for patients being seen in hospital)

Respiratory rate ≥ 30/minute

Blood pressure
(systolic BP < 90 mmHg or diastolic BP ≤ 60 mmHg)

Age ≥ 65 years

CURB-65 score

 

Formula

CURB-65 score for stratification of CAP patients (30-day mortality)

  • 0–1: Mortality low (1.5%). Likely suitable for home treatment.
  • 2: Mortality intermediate (9.2%). Consider hospital supervised treatment. (Options may include (a) short stay inpatient; (b) hospital supervised outpatient.)
  • ≥3: Mortality high (22%). Manage in hospital as severe pneumonia. (Assess for ICU admission especially if CURB-65 score = 4 or 5.)

 

Reference

Lim WS, van der Eerden MM, Laing R, et al. Defining community acquired pneumonia severity on presentation to hospital: an international derivation and validation study. Thorax. 2003;58(5):377-382. doi:10.1136/thorax.58.5.377