Clinical Research Directory

Inclusion criteria * Confirmed ACMP (LAVI \>34 ml/m2) * ECG-confirmed AF * Age: 65-80 years old * Patients eligible for both treatment strategies judged by the treating physician signed and dated informed consent prior to admission to the trial Exclusion criteria * Longstanding (\>1 year) persistent or permanent (accepted) AF * Previous left atrial (LA) ablation or LA surgery * AF due to a reversible cause (e.g. hyperthyroidism, post-operative AF) * Recent (\<90 days) acute coronary syndrome, stroke/TIA or cardiac intervention (Cardiac interventions include percutaneous coronary intervention, coronary artery bypass grafting, and heart valve repair or replacement (endovascular or surgical)) * Intracardiac thrombus * HF NYHA III/IV * Impaired renal function, defined as estimated glomerular filtration rate ≤25 ml/min/1.73m2 * Presence of (or scheduled for) mechanical assist device or heart transplant * Severe aortic or mitral valve disease * Complex congenital heart disease * Life expectancy \<1 year * Currently enrolled in another clinical randomized trial