Primary end point is the time to persistent AF as assessed by daily telemetric ECG recordings and confirmed by conventional Holter ECG recordings. Secondary end points include burden of AF, time to first symptomatic episode of AF, AF burden (number and duration of AF episodes), number of hospitalizations due to AF, time to termination of trial medication, number of serious adverse events including pro-arrhythmic events, and quality of life. Details of the secondary end points are indicated in the approved trial protocol.