Marzena Szarafinska

Mrs. Marzena Szarafinska

orcid

Research Focus & Metrics

Academic Career Length

3Years (2024-Present)

(Calculated once Scilit publication data is synced: current year − year of first publication + 1)

Representative Publications

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17 September 2025 in PLOS ONE
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
PDF file
AIAnna Ingielewicz
Anna Ingielewicz
MSMarzena Szarafinska
Marzena Szarafinska
MZMaciej Zając
Maciej Zając
ZBZuzanna Brunka
Zuzanna Brunka
MGMariusz Grażewicz
Mariusz Grażewicz
MSMariusz Siemiński
Mariusz Siemiński
Introduction: Elderly patients in emergency departments (EDs) are at increased risk due to nonspecific symptoms, multimorbidity, and elevated mortality. This study compared the predictive performance of the Manchester Triage System (MTS) and the Emergency Severity Index (ESI) for hospitalization and critical outcomes in geriatric patients and analyzed symptom patterns by age and clinical course. Methods: This retrospective study included all patients aged ≥18 years admitted to a tertiary ED in northern Poland between January and June 2021. Each patient was concurrently assessed using both MTS and ESI. Data collected included triage level, age group (18–64, 65–79, ≥ 80), sex, mode of arrival, presenting symptoms, and outcomes including hospitalization and ten predefined critical events (e.g., sepsis, admission, urgent surgery). Logistic regression was used to assess associations. Results: Among 1,063 patients, 475 (44.7%) were aged ≥65. Patients aged 18–64 most commonly presented with abdominal pain or polytrauma, while geriatric patients more frequently reported dyspnea, weakness, and altered mental status. Dyspnea was nearly twice as common in patients ≥80. Weakness (OR = 1.67) and abdominal pain (OR = 1.64) were significantly associated with hospitalization. Hospitalization and critical events were more likely in older adults (OR = 2.03 for ages 65–79; OR = 3.74 for ≥80). In both systems, higher triage urgency was independently associated with greater risk (MTS: OR = 0.51; ESI: OR = 0.43). ESI showed stronger alignment with physiological deterioration and predicted complications such as ICU admission and sepsis more consistently than MTS. Conclusions: MTS and ESI show limited sensitivity in older patients, particularly with nonspecific presentations. ESI provided better discrimination of clinical urgency. Findings support revising triage systems to account for age, atypical symptoms, and geriatric vulnerability.

28 December 2024 in Journal of Clinical Medicine
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
PDF file
MŁMartyna Halszka Łukasiewicz
Martyna Halszka Łukasiewicz
PLPatryk Lisovski
Patryk Lisovski
MPMonika Proczko-Stepaniak
Monika Proczko-Stepaniak
MWMaciej Wilczyński
Maciej Wilczyński
MSMarzena Szarafinska
Marzena Szarafinska
MSMichał Szymański
Michał Szymański
Background: Helicobacter pylori (HP) is under investigation for its potential role in postoperative complications. While some studies indicate no impact, they often cite short or incomplete follow-up. This study aims to compare 1-year outcomes in groups with and without active HP infection after bariatric surgery, also assessing HP prevalence in postoperative specimens of sleeve gastrectomy (SG) patients. Methods: Conducted between May 2020 and May 2021, this study involves both retrospective and prospective data collection from 93 eligible SG patients. Demographics, surgical outcomes and follow-up results (including complications; weight and BMI at 3, 6 and 12 months post-SG) were extracted. Results: No statistically significant differences in body weight were observed at 3 (p = 0.3757), 6 (p = 0.1422) or 12 (p = 0.2737) months post-surgery between the HP-positive (Group A) and non-infected (Group B) groups. Group A experienced significant reductions in body weight at 6 and 12 months (p < 0.0001), while group B showed significant reductions at 3, 6 and 12 months (p < 0.0001), with additional decreases at 6 and 12 months post-surgery compared to 3 months. No significant differences in overall surgery-related side effects were observed between the groups. Conclusions: Patients with active HP infections undergoing SG displayed comparable rates of short- and long-term complications to the non-infected group. Active HP infection did not impact body weight loss outcomes at 12 months, but it may potentially slow it down in the initial three-month post-surgery period. This underscores the need to consider eradication while maintaining awareness of the potential side effects associated with the process.

17 April 2026 in Journal of Clinical Medicine
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
PDF file
AIAnna Ingielewicz
Anna Ingielewicz
ZBZuzanna Brunka
Zuzanna Brunka
MGMariusz Grażewicz
Mariusz Grażewicz
MSMateusz Szczupak
Mateusz Szczupak
MSMarzena Szarafinska
Marzena Szarafinska
Robert Konrad SzymczakRobert Konrad Szymczak
Robert Konrad Szymczak
Background/Objectives: Cancer patients increasingly present to emergency departments, posing unique clinical and organizational challenges. Data on this population in Poland remain limited. Methods: A retrospective study was conducted in two hospitals in northern Poland (January–March 2023). All adult patients with active cancer presenting to the ED were included (n = 552, 3.1% of visits). Data included demographics, cancer type, presenting complaints, Emergency Severity Index (ESI), disposition, and in-hospital mortality. Multivariable logistic regression models were used to assess predictors of hospitalization, hospice referral, and mortality, reported as odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Results: Mean age was 68 years; 51% were female. The most common cancers were lung, breast, colorectal, and prostate. Leading complaints included abdominal pain (15%), trauma (7.5%), and dyspnea (7%). Most patients were triaged as ESI 3–4 (87%). Hospitalization rate was 58%, hospice referral 6%, and in-hospital mortality 7.1%. Lower ESI levels were significantly associated with hospitalization (OR 0.57; 95% CI 0.44–0.73), hospice referral (OR 0.40; 95% CI 0.25–0.63), and in-hospital mortality (OR 0.29; 95% CI 0.18–0.47). Conclusions: Oncology patients represent a small but high-risk ED population. While ESI reflects acute severity, it may not adequately capture palliative care needs. These findings suggest opportunities to improve integration of palliative care in ED settings.