Association of cardiovascular magnetic resonance diastolic indices with arrhythmia in repaired Tetralogy of Fallot

BACKGROUND: Patients with repaired Tetralogy of Fallot (rTOF) experience a high burden of long-term morbidity, particularly arrhythmias. Cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) is routinely used to assess ventricular characteristics but the relationship between CMR diastolic function and arrhythmia has not been evaluated. We hypothesized in rTOF, left ventricular (LV) diastolic dysfunction on CMR would correlate with arrhythmias and mortality. METHODS: Adolescents and adults with rTOF who underwent CMR were compared to healthy controls (n = 58). Standard ventricular parameters were assessed and manual planimetry was performed to generate filling curves and indices of diastolic function. Chart review was performed to collect outcomes. Univariate and multivariable logistic regression was performed to identify outcome associations. RESULTS: One-hundred sixty-seven subjects with rTOF (mean age 32 years) and 58 healthy control subjects underwent CMR. Patients with rTOF had decreased LV volumes and increased right ventricular (RV) volumes, lower RV ejection fraction (RVEF), lower peak ejection rate (PER), peak filling rate (PFR) and PFR indexed to end-diastolic volume (PFR/EDV) compared to healthy controls. Eighty-three subjects with rTOF had arrhythmia (63 atrial, 47 ventricular) and 11 died. Left atrial (LA) volumes, time to peak filling rate (tPFR), and PFR/EDV were associated with arrhythmia on univariate analysis. PER/EDV was associated with ventricular (Odds ratio, OR 0.43 [0.24–0.80], p = 0.007) and total arrhythmia (OR 0.56 [0.37–0.92], p = 0.021) burden. A multivariable predictive model including diastolic covariates showed improved prediction for arrhythmia compared to clinical and conventional CMR measures (area under curve (AUC) 0.749 v. 0.685 for overall arrhythmia). PFR/EDV was decreased and tPFR was increased in rTOF subjects with mortality as compared to those without mortality. CONCLUSIONS: Subjects with rTOF have abnormal LV diastolic function compared to healthy controls. Indices of LV diastolic function were associated with arrhythmia and mortality. CMR diastolic indices may be helpful in risk stratification for arrhythmia. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12968-023-00928-x.