In addition, Kaplan-Meier survival estimates showed that patients with AF duration ≥66.5 months, pre-operative serum BNP level ≥ 251 pg/ml and pre-operative LAD ≥67.9 mm had higher proportions of AF late recurrence than patients with AF duration <66.5 months (Fig. 1a), pre-operative serum BNP level < 251 pg/ml (Fig. 1b) and pre-operative LAD <67.9 mm (Fig. 1d), respectively (p < 0.001). Here, NPPB is linked to atrial fibrillation.