CLINICAL AND LABORATORY CHARACTERISTICS AND EVALUATION OF CURB-65 IN RISK STRATIFICATION OF COMMUNITY ACQUIRED PNEUMONIA AT THONG NHAT HOSPITAL

Abstract

This study aimed to: (1) describe the clinical and paraclinical characteristics of patients with CAP; and (2) assess the prognostic value of the CURB-65 score in determining disease severity and predicting the need for hospitalization. A retrospective descriptive study was conducted on 250 adult patients diagnosed with CAP at Thong Nhat Hospital (Vietnam) between April 2023 and April 2025. Clinical symptoms, laboratory findings, chest radiography, and CURB-65 scores were collected and analyzed using SPSS 20.0. The correlation between CURB-65 and hospitalization was assessed using chi-square tests. The most common clinical symptoms were productive cough (74%), fever (67.6%), and dyspnea (54%). Radiographic abnormalities predominantly involved the right lung (43.6%). Elevated CRP (>5 mg/dL) and leukocytosis (>10,000 cells/mm³) were observed in 89.2% and 61.6% of patients, respectively. Among hospitalized patients, the majority had CURB- 65 scores ≥2 (p < 0.001). All patients with scores ≥4 were admitted to the ICU. CURB-65 is a simple and effective tool for initial risk stratification in patients with CAP. Its predictive value for hospitalization and intensive care admission supports its routine use in clinical practice, particularly in resource-limited settings.