CURB-65

Severity and site-of-care in community-acquired pneumonia

CURB-65

Severity and site-of-care in community-acquired pneumonia

Confusion (new disorientation)+1Urea > 7 mmol/L (BUN > 19 mg/dL)+1Respiratory rate ≥ 30 /min+1Systolic BP < 90 mmHg or diastolic ≤ 60 mmHg+1Age ≥ 65 years+1

0–1 — low severity

30-day mortality ≈ 1.5 %. Outpatient management usually appropriate.

Source: Lim WS et al. Defining community acquired pneumonia severity on presentation. Thorax 2003;58(5):377-382.Open

Interpretation

0–1 — low severity — 30-day mortality ≈ 1.5 %. Outpatient management usually appropriate.
2 — moderate — ≈ 9.2 % mortality. Consider hospital admission or close supervised outpatient care.
≥ 3 — high severity — ≈ 22 % mortality. Hospital admission; assess for critical care at 4–5.

Source: Lim WS et al. Defining community acquired pneumonia severity on presentation. Thorax 2003;58(5):377-382.

These tools do not replace clinical judgement. Interpret the result in the context of the whole patient.

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