- General medicine
- Pulmonology
- Infectious Diseases
CRB-65 score
Severity of pneumonia without urea
The CRB-65 incorporates four of the CURB-65 criteria without requiring a urea measurement. It is particularly useful when a severity assessment needs to be performed outside of an environment with immediate access to laboratory testing. It assists with patient triage without replacing clinical examination.
- Number of questions
- 4 criteria
- Approximate duration
- ≈ 1 minute
- Population
- Adults with community-acquired pneumonia
- Modality
- clinical score
QuestionnaireCRB-65
CLINICIAN SCORE
The healthcare professional assesses four criteria: new-onset confusion, respiratory rate ≥ 30/min, SBP < 90 mmHg or DBP ≤ 60 mmHg, and age ≥ 65; each criterion present is worth 1 point (score from 0 to 4).
Are you patient?
Pneumonia can be serious even with a low score. This calculation should only serve to support medical evaluation.
Question 1 / 4
New confusion (person, place or time), or Abbreviated Mental Test score ≤ 8/10
Terms of contract
The CRB-65 score is calculated by a healthcare professional, particularly in primary care, for an adult with clinically diagnosed community-acquired pneumonia, without the need for lab tests. Respiratory rate and blood pressure are measured during the consultation; the score should be interpreted alongside clinical judgment, as it can be influenced by comorbidities or pregnancy. Confusion: new disorientation regarding person, place, or time, or an Abbreviated Mental Test score ≤ 8/10; distinguish new confusion from chronic cognitive impairment.
Score interpretationCRB-65
Each criterion present is worth 1 point; total score from 0 to 4.
Total score
First reading
0 to 0
Low risk according to the score, subject to the clinical context.
1 to 2
Intermediate risk.
3 to 4
High risk.
0: low risk; 1–2: intermediate risk; 3–4: high risk.
It remains a simplified prognostic score and does not replace signs of severity or clinical decision-making.
Frequently asked questions
Sources and references
Lim WS et al.
Lim WS et al., Thorax, 2003
Questionnaires and associated scores
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