American Board of Internal Medicine (ABIM) Certification Practice Exam

Which component is NOT included in the CURB-65 criteria for assessing pneumonia severity?

1. Age ≥65 years

2. Rising blood glucose levels

3. Respiration rate ≥30/min

4. Confusion

The correct answer is: Rising blood glucose levels

The CURB-65 criteria are used to assess the severity of pneumonia and guide treatment decisions. The components of CURB-65 include confusion, urea level, respiratory rate, blood pressure, and age being 65 years or older. Each of these factors contributes to determining the patient's risk of serious illness and the need for hospitalization. Rising blood glucose levels are not part of the CURB-65 criteria. While elevated blood glucose may indicate other underlying issues, such as stress or infection, it is not a factor considered within the specific framework of assessing pneumonia severity in CURB-65. Thus, when evaluating the criteria, it is clear that blood glucose levels are outside the scope of what CURB-65 evaluates, making it the component that is indeed not included. In summary, the correct answer is based on understanding the specific components clearly defined in CURB-65, where confusion, elevated respiratory rate, and age are critical criteria, whereas rising blood glucose levels fall outside this assessment tool.