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CURB-65 Pneumonia Severity

PulmonologyEmergency MedicineGeneral Medicine

Medical context

Stratify community-acquired pneumonia severity and site-of-care decisions using CURB-65.

Pulmonary teams interpret results with ABG context, imaging, and ventilator parameters.

This page explains the CURB-65 formula, how to interpret the output, known limitations, and peer-reviewed references so you can verify results against primary sources and local protocols.

It is grouped under Pulmonology because respiratory severity and pneumonia scores.

How to use this calculator

  1. Enter the values requested by the CURB-65 calculator using the units shown beside each field.
  2. Review the calculated result and read the interpretation section before acting on the output.
  3. Check limitations and references if the result will change management, dosing, or disposition.
  4. Use the related calculators section when you need supporting values (for example electrolytes, weight, or complementary risk scores).

Calculator

Result

0 / 5

Consider outpatient treatment

Educational use only. Confirm results with clinical judgment, primary sources, and local protocols. Not a substitute for professional medical advice. Full disclaimer.

Formula

Confusion, Urea >7 mmol/L, RR ≥30, low BP, age ≥65 — one point each.

Interpretation

0–1 often outpatient candidates; 2 consider short stay / supervised care; ≥3 higher mortality risk and likely inpatient / critical care assessment.

Limitations

Does not replace clinical judgment, oxygenation, comorbidities, or social factors.

Frequently asked questions

What urea cutoff is used?
Urea >7 mmol/L (approximately BUN >19 mg/dL).
Is the CURB-65 result enough to make a treatment decision?
No. Calculators support medical decision-making but do not replace examination, shared decision-making, institutional protocols, or consultant input when stakes are high.
Does Calcmedical store the values I type in?
Inputs are processed in your browser for this session. We do not ask for patient names or medical record numbers. See our privacy policy for hosting and analytics details.

References

  • Lim WS et al. CURB-65. Thorax.
  • ATS/IDSA CAP guidelines