CURB-65

Pneumonia severity
New confusion
Urea > 7 mmol/L (BUN > 19 mg/dL)
Respiratory rate ≥ 30/min
Systolic BP < 90 or diastolic ≤ 60
Age ≥ 65
Evidence
Original publication
Lim WS, van der Eerden MM, Laing R, et al. Defining community acquired pneumonia severity on presentation to hospital: an international derivation and validation study.
Thorax, 2003
Open source
Validation
Capelastegui A, España PP, Quintana JM, et al. Validation of a predictive rule for the management of community-acquired pneumonia. Independent cohort confirming CURB-65 stratifies 30-day mortality and supports site-of-care decisions.
European Respiratory Journal, 2006
Open source
Last reviewed: 2026-09
Report an error in this calculator
MedScore is an educational and clinical decision-support tool. It does not provide a diagnosis, a treatment, or a drug-dosing recommendation, and it does not replace clinical judgement or local guidelines. Confirm every result against the original source before acting on it. The treating clinician remains responsible for all decisions.