Looking for more details? Read our comprehensive CURB-65 guide
What is the CURB-65 Score?
The CURB-65 score is a clinical prediction rule that has been validated for predicting mortality in community-acquired pneumonia and infection of any site. It is commonly used to help physicians decide whether a patient can be safely treated as an outpatient or requires hospital admission.
Standard Reference Ranges
| Score | Risk Level & Disposition |
|---|---|
| 0-1 | Low Risk (Outpatient care) |
| 2 | Moderate Risk (Consider short stay hospital or close outpatient monitoring) |
| 3 | Severe Risk (Hospital admission) |
| 4-5 | Highest Risk (ICU admission recommended) |
Clinical Significance
CURB-65 stands for Confusion, Urea, Respiratory rate, Blood pressure, and Age >= 65. The simplicity of the CURB-65 rule makes it easy to use in a busy clinical setting without complex calculations. However, clinical judgement should always be considered alongside the score.
Case Scenario
Case: A 70-year-old female presents with shortness of breath and a productive cough.
Parameters: Alert and oriented (0), BUN 16 mg/dL (0), Respiratory rate 32 breaths/min (1), Blood pressure 130/80 mmHg (0), Age 70 (1).
Result: Total score of 2 (Moderate Risk).
Action: Given her age and tachypnea, a short-stay hospital admission is often the safest choice to ensure she responds to initial treatment.
Frequently Asked Questions
If BUN is unavailable, you can use the CRB-65 score, which omits the Urea criteria. A CRB-65 score of 0 indicates low risk, while 1 or higher suggests consideration for hospital admission.
It is specifically validated for Community-Acquired Pneumonia (CAP). It may not be accurate for Hospital-Acquired Pneumonia (HAP) or Ventilator-Associated Pneumonia (VAP).
How to Use
Check the boxes for the presence of Confusion, Uremia (BUN > 19 mg/dL), Respiratory rate ≥ 30, low Blood pressure, and Age ≥ 65. The tool will calculate the score and mortality risk.