Pulmonology
Infectious Diseases
Emergencies
The CURB-65 is a severity score for community-acquired pneumonia based on five simple criteria. It helps identify patients at higher risk and organize referral, but should not be used in isolation to decide on hospitalization or the level of care.
Number of questions
5 criteria
Approximate duration
1 to 2 minutes after urea becomes available
Population
adult with community-acquired pneumonia
Modality
clinical score with biological data
QuestionnaireCURB-65
CLINICIAN SCORE
The professional assesses five criteria (new mental confusion, blood urea > 7 mmol/L, respiratory rate ≥ 30/min, SBP < 90 mmHg or DBP ≤ 60 mmHg, age ≥ 65 years); each criterion present scores 1 point, for a total of 0 to 5.
Are you patient?
This score requires a medical evaluation and lab tests. Severe breathing difficulty or a deterioration in general health warrants urgent medical attention, regardless of the score.
Terms of contract
The CURB-65 score applies to adults diagnosed with community-acquired pneumonia during initial assessment, typically in a hospital setting; it requires a blood urea test and measurement of respiratory rate and blood pressure. It should be interpreted alongside clinical judgment to assess severity, and not used in isolation to determine the level of care. Confusion: new disorientation to person, place, or time, or an abbreviated mental test score ≤ 8/10; distinguish new confusion from chronic cognitive impairment.
Score interpretationCURB-65
Each criterion met is worth 1 point; total score from 0 to 5.
Total score
First reading
0
to
1
Low according to score.
2
to
2
Intermediate.
3
to
5
High.
0–1: low risk; 2: intermediate; 3–5: high.
The score does not capture all comorbidities, saturation, imaging, or certain signs of failure. Clinical judgment remains essential.
Frequently asked questions
Does CURB-65 diagnose pneumonia?
Why is urea included?
What are its limitations?
Sources and references
Lim WS et al.
Lim WS et al., Thorax, 2003
In practice
Full name
Confusion, Urea, Respiratory rate, Blood pressure, age ≥65
Method
clinical score with biological data
Language
Not applicable (clinical score)
Authors
Lim WS et al.
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