What does the CURB65 scoring system assess?

The CURB65 scoring system is specifically designed to assess the risk of mortality in patients with community-acquired pneumonia. Each letter in CURB65 stands for a clinical criterion:

• C: Confusion

• U: Urea (blood urea nitrogen)

• R: Respiratory rate

• B: Blood pressure

• 65: Age of 65 or older

By evaluating these parameters, healthcare providers can stratify the risk of severe outcomes related to pneumonia and make informed decisions about the level of care required, whether outpatient management or hospitalization is necessary. The framework helps to guide treatment decisions based on the severity of the pneumonia.

In contrast, the other options pertain to different health conditions entirely and are not assessed using the CURB65 system. Asthma severity, sleep apnea risk, and bronchitis severity require different scoring or assessment tools tailored specifically for each condition.