These factors are highlighted in the current study and include BMI, metabolic profile and renal function, all of which are associated with volume overload, adverse hemodynamic changes, autonomic dysfunction, higher levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines and a stimulated renin-aldosterone-angiotensin-system.[4,12,22,24,26–28,34–36] In this context, our data do certainly not mean that blood pressure control should be neglected in AF patients. This evidence concerns the gene REN and atrial fibrillation.