CURB-65

CURB-65

Principle

Mortality risk stratification in adult community-acquired pneumonia.

Scope

Adult community-acquired pneumonia, established clinical diagnosis. CURB-65: with urea, hospital context. The score complements clinical judgement; limitations related to comorbidities and pregnancy.

Interpretation limits

Prognostic category for community-acquired pneumonia, without individual percentage. The score does not diagnose pneumonia or prescribe treatment or disposition. CRB-65 and CURB-65 are not interchangeable.

Formula and logic

One point per present criterion: confusion, urea > 7 mmol/L, RR ≥ 30/min, DBP ≤ 60 or SBP < 90, age ≥ 65.

Interpretation

0–1

Low mortality risk

2–2

Intermediate mortality risk

3–5

High mortality risk

Definition version : 0.3.0

Sources

• NICE — NG250 — Pneumonia, encadrés 1 et 2

  2025-09-02 · CRB65 / CURB65 criteria and categories checked in the indexed primary text on 5 October 2026; direct access HTTP 403.

• NICE — QS110 — évaluation du risque de mortalité

  2025-09-02 · Distinction between CRB65 without laboratory tests in primary care and CURB65 in hospital; score combined with clinical judgement.

• Thermo Scientific Chemicals · Fisher Scientific — Urée CH₄N₂O — masse molaire 60,06 g/mol

  Accessed on 2026-10-05 · Chemical basis of conversion: g/L = mmol/L × 0,06006. Fixed conventional factor; total urea, not BUN in mg/dL.