Prognostic value of left atrial size and function in adults with tetralogy of Fallot

BACKGROUND: Left atrial (LA) size predicts cardiovascular outcome in chronic heart failure. Its prognostic value in adults with repaired tetralogy of Fallot (ToF) is unknown. This study therefore investigated the association of LA size and function with cardiovascular events in adults with ToF. METHODS: Clinically stable adults with ToF who visited the outpatient clinic between 2011 and 2013 underwent echocardiography and were prospectively followed for the occurrence of death, heart failure, hospitalizations, arrhythmia, thromboembolic events, and re-interventions. LA maximal, minimal and pre-A wave volume, area and length were measured on the apical four-chamber view. Total, passive and active emptying fractions were calculated. Analysis of LA volumes as continuous variables yielded similar conclusions. In addition, LA length (adjusted HR 2.49 [1.51-4.09], P<0.001), total emptying fraction (adjusted HR 0.96 [0.93-0.99], P=0.008), and active emptying fraction (adjusted HR 0.92 [0.87-0.96], P=0.001) were significantly associated with cardiovascular events. Standardized HRs indicated that LA length was the strongest prognostic marker. In addition, none of the patients with a normally sized LA died or developed heart failure. CONCLUSIONS: LA size and function can provide relevant prognostic information in clinically stable adults with repaired ToF. Especially LA length may be a valuable additional tool in the risk stratification of these patients.