Currently, in Europe, more than 6 million patients have atrial fibrillation (AF) [
1]. It is expected that this number will double in the next 30–50 years [
1‐
3]. With AF, the risk of death, stroke and heart failure is increased [
4‐
6], and exercise capacity and quality of life are reduced [
7,
8]. Thus, AF is not a benign disease. Despite efforts to maintain sinus rhythm, AF is a progressive arrhythmia [
9‐
11] and many patients eventually develop permanent AF. Until recently, the treatment of this specific patient group was not evidence based. An evidence-based treatment strategy is indispensable considering the large patient population. …