What do the letters stand for?

C: Confusion, U: Urea, R: Respiratory rate, B: Blood pressure, 65: Age.

CURB-65 Score – Pneumonia Severity Assessment | CalcTools

Determine the severity of community-acquired pneumonia and guide admission decisions. Clinical triage service.

Community-Acquired Pneumonia (CAP) is a leading cause of hospitalization and death. Deciding whether a patient needs home treatment, a hospital ward, or an ICU bed is a complex clinical decision. The CURB-65 score is a validated prediction rule that quantifies mortality risk based on five objective factors. Our CURB-65 service provides physicians with a reliable data point to support their disposition decisions, ensuring that resources are allocated to those who need them most.

ConfusionNew mental confusion

BUN > 19 mg/dLUrea > 7 mmol/L

Respiratory Rate ≥ 30Breaths per minute

SBP < 90 or DBP ≤ 60Low blood pressure

Age ≥ 65Patient age

CURB-65 Score

0/ 5

Low Risk (Group 1)

Mortality risk is low (approx. 1.5%). Consider outpatient treatment.

Medical Disclaimer: This tool is for educational and informational purposes only. It is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.

Evidence & References

Lim WS, et al. Defining community acquired pneumonia severity on presentation to hospital: CURB-65 score is a light weight and reliable tool. Thorax. 2003.

How it Works

The service tallies one point for each clinical criteria. The final score (0-5) is matched against mortality statistics to suggest appropriate site-of-care: Outpatient, Inpatient, or Intensive Care.

Calculation Formula

1 point per criteria met

Calculation Examples

1. **Ward**: Age 70 and Urea > 7 = **Score 2** (Admission recommended).

Why use this tool in your daily life?

This tool standardizes pneumonia management. By providing an objective risk score, it helps reduce both unnecessary admissions for low-risk patients and dangerous home-discharges for those at high risk.