CURB-65: Introduction

CURB-65 is a clinical prediction tool widely used to assess the severity of community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) and estimate the risk of 30-day mortality. Developed in 2002 at the University of Nottingham, CURB-65 is a simple and effective scoring system that helps clinicians make informed decisions regarding patient management and care.

What Does CURB-65 Stand For?

The acronym CURB-65 represents five key clinical criteria:

• Confusion: New onset of disorientation or altered mental status.
• Urea: Blood Urea Nitrogen (BUN) > 7 mmol/L (or > 19 mg/dL).
• Respiratory Rate: ≥ 30 breaths per minute.
• Blood Pressure: Systolic < 90 mmHg or Diastolic ≤ 60 mmHg.
• 65: Age 65 years or older.

Each criterion is assigned 1 point, resulting in a total score ranging from 0 to 5.

CURB-65 Score for Assessing Community-Acquired Pneumonia

The CURB-65 score is a clinical prediction tool for assessing the severity of community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) and estimating the risk of 30-day mortality.