The CURB-65 criteria is used for assessing what aspect of patient care?

The CURB-65 criteria is specifically designed for assessing the severity of community-acquired pneumonia in adult patients. It helps clinicians determine the appropriate level of care and management needed for patients presenting with pneumonia symptoms.

The acronym CURB-65 stands for the following factors:

• C: Confusion (new onset)

• U: Urea (blood urea nitrogen > 7 mmol/L)

• R: Respiratory rate (30 breaths/minute or greater)

• B: Blood pressure (systolic < 90 mm Hg or diastolic ≤ 60 mm Hg)

• 65: Age ≥ 65 years

Each of these factors contributes to a scoring system that predicts mortality risk and the need for hospitalization. A higher score indicates greater severity and necessitates more aggressive treatment and potential inpatient care. Therefore, using the CURB-65 criteria allows healthcare providers to effectively stratify patients based on their risk, achieving improved clinical outcomes in the management of pneumonia.