CURB-65 Score Calculator
Community-acquired pneumonia severity score using confusion, urea, RR, BP, and age ≥65.
Understanding this tool
Why nurses use it
CURB-65 stratifies community-acquired pneumonia severity using confusion, urea, respiratory rate, blood pressure, and age — supporting admission vs outpatient decisions.
When to use it
Use when assessing adults with CAP alongside clinical judgment, oxygen requirement, and comorbidities. Score 2 is intermediate risk — not equivalent to low-risk scores 0–1.
Calculate
How to use this calculator
- Tick each criterion present.
- Sum score 0–5.
- Discuss disposition with medical team per local guidelines.
How the calculation works
One point each for: new confusion, urea >7 mmol/L, RR ≥30, low BP (SBP <90 or DBP ≤60), age ≥65. Higher scores suggest higher mortality risk.
Formula used by this tool — verify units before applying at the bedside.
Worked example
Limitations & clinical notes
- Severity score aids disposition; does not replace clinical assessment.
- Urea threshold depends on local lab units.
- NICE NG250: score 2 is intermediate risk — not equivalent to low-risk scores 0–1.
References
Key sources: NICE NG250 — Pneumonia in adults; BTS CAP guidelines.
Don’t miss new nursing tools
Subscribe for alerts when we add calculators, clinical scores, and reference updates to NurseOnShift.
Disclaimer: This calculator is for educational and bedside double-check purposes only. It does not replace institutional protocols, prescriber orders, pharmacist verification, or clinical judgment. Always follow your local policies — especially for high-risk medications, infusions, pediatrics, and critical care. If the patient is acutely unwell, escalate immediately rather than relying on any calculator output.