In the multivariate Cox regression, forward stepwise analysis adjusted by age, persistent AF, diabetes mellitus, NT-proBNP, eGFR, LAD, LAAV, ablative strategy (CPVI-only), and baseline GDF-15 indicated that baseline GDF-15 (HR 1.053, 95% CI 1.007-1.100, P = 0.022) and LAD (HR 1.124, 95% CI 1.011-1.250, P = 0.030) were both independent predictors of AF recurrence after RFCA. Here, NPPB is linked to diabetes mellitus.