Characteristics of the studies included in the current review.

* Paroxysmal Atrial Fibrillation # Persistent Atrial Fibrillation & Chronic Atrial Fibrillation NA = Not Available; mon = months; yrs = years HTN = Hypertension; DM = Diabetes Mellitus; CAD = Coronary Artery Disease; OB = Obesity; IHD = Ischemic Heart Disease; HLP = Hyperlipidemia; VHD = Valvular Heart Disease; SHD = Structural heart disease. ACEI = Angiotensin Converting Enzyme Inhibitors; ARB = Angiotensin Receptor Blocker; CCB = Calcium-channel Blocker; AAD = Anti-Arrhythmic Drugs. RFCA = Radiofrequency Catheter Ablation; CCA = Cryoballoon Catheter Ablation; PVI = Pulmonary vein isolation; PVAI = Pulmonary Vein Antrum Isolation; CPVA/PVCA = Circumferential Pulmonary Vein Catheter Ablation; SPVI = Segmental Pulmonary Vein Isolation; LACA = Radiofrequency Left Atrial Circumferential Ablation. CMR = Cardiac Magnetic Resonance Imaging; TTE = Transthoracic Echocardiography; TEE = Transesophageal Echocardiography; MDCT = Multidetector Computed Tomography. Atrial fibrillation recurrence is defined as documented by body surface 12-lead electrocardiogram (ECG) or 24-hour Holter ECG lasting 30 seconds, despite being symptomatic or not, at any time from 3 months after catheter ablation. Characteristics of the studies included in the current review.