All patients are systematically followed for 6 months by daily telemetric ECG recordings. All recordings are obtained using miniaturized ECG recorders which allow recording of a 60-second ECG and transtelephonic ECG transmission of the ECG via a toll-free number. All ECGs are received at the central analysis unit located at the Institute for Clinical Cardiovascular Research (IKKF) in Munich. Each telemetric ECG is analyzed within 24 hours of receipt at the analysis unit. The study physician is informed in case of any abnormal results within these 24 hours. Suspicion of persistent atrial fibrillation in the Tele-ECG prompts a local visit to record a Holte ECG. The Holter ECGs are centrally analyzed (blinded end point analysis). The systematic telemetric ECG monitoring allows for detection of all episodes of recurrent persistent AF.