The CURB65 score predicted 180-day mortality of non-small cell lung carcinoma patients with immune checkpoint inhibitor-associated pneumonitis: A pilot retrospective analysis

INTRODUCTION: The immune checkpoint inhibitor-associated pneumonitis (CIP) is a particularly worrisome and potentially lethal form of immune-related adverse events. An objective and evidence-based assessment tool for evaluating the severity of CIP is in urgent need. CURB65 (consciousness, urea nitrogen, respiratory rate, blood pressure, and age) is a potential candidate to meet the need. METHODS: A retrospective study was conducted to explore preliminarily if CURB65 could predict the mortality in non-small cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC) patients with CIP. RESULTS: A total number of 28 NSCLC patients with CIP were included in the current study and classified into low-CURB65 group (n = 21) and high-CURB65 group (n = 7). Mortality after onset of CIP was consistently higher in the high-CURB65 group than in the low-CURB65 group (30-day: 57.1% vs. 0; 90-day: 71.4% vs. 4.76%; 180-day:71.4% vs. 14.29%). Two patients (9.5%) in the low-CURB65 group had severe CIP, and more than half of patients in the high-CURB65 group had severe CIP (p = 0.0008). The patients in the high-CURB65 group received more aggressive treatment. Both groups showed a predominant organizing pneumonia-like pattern on CT scan. CURB65 was moderately correlated with the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) grade of CIP, with a Pearson correlation coefficient R of 0.524. CONCLUSION: CURB65 accurately stratified the risk of mortality in NSCLC patients with CIP. CURB65 might complement the ASCO grade in the assessment and prediction of mortality in these populations.