Please select the eligibility criteria that correspond to the clinical trial below.
Title: Prospective, Multi Centre, International Registry of Male and Female Patients Newly Diagnosed With Atrial Fibrillation.
Brief Summary: The Global Anticoagulant Registry in the FIELD-Atrial Fibrillation (GARFIELD-AF Registry) is a non-interventional, observational study that characterized a global population of non-valvular atrial fibrillation patients. The registry was used to document global baseline characteristics, current treatment strategies and outcome measures. Characterisation of a number of AF sub-populations was also completed. GARFIELD-AF is an independent academic research initiative sponsored by the Thrombosis Research Institute (London, UK) and supported by an unrestricted research grant from Bayer AG (Berlin, Germany).


Options:
A: Inclusion Criteria:

1. Patients with symptomatic paroxysmal AF (history of self-terminating AF within 7 days or history of self-terminating AF with 1 or more cardioversions within 48 hours after onset), meeting following criteria at the out-patient clinic:

   * patient has at least 3 AF episodes in the last 3 months prior to the visit
   * AF episodes are symptomatic, and patient is drug-resistant (at least one class IC or III), or drug-intolerant (palpitations, fatigue, dyspnea, cardiomyopathy,...)
   * no advanced structural heart disease
   * patient has a CHA2DS2-VASc score of 0, 1, 2, 3 or 4
2. Signed Patient Informed Consent Form.
3. Age 18 years or older.
4. Able and willing to comply with all follow-up testing and requirements.

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Persistent atrial fibrillation (history of AF\>7days or history of cardioversion \> 48h of AF)
2. Previous ablation for AF
3. LA antero-posterior diameter \> 50 mm (parasternal long axis view , PLAX)
4. LVEF \< 35% (ejection fraction)
5. AF secondary to electrolyte imbalance, thyroid disease, or reversible or non-cardiac cause
6. Coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) procedure within the last three months
7. Awaiting cardiac transplantation or other cardiac surgery
8. Documented left atrial thrombus on imaging
9. Diagnosed atrial myxoma
10. Women who are pregnant or breastfeeding
11. Acute illness or active systemic infection or sepsis
12. Unstable angina
13. Uncontrolled heart failure
14. Myocardial infarction within the previous two months
15. History of blood clotting or bleeding abnormalities
16. Contraindication to anticoagulation therapy (ie, heparin or warfarin)
17. Life expectancy less than 12 months
18. Enrollment in any other study evaluating another device or drug
19. Presence of intramural thrombus, tumor or other abnormality that precludes catheter introduction
B: Inclusion Criteria:

* Age ≥ 18 years
* Overweight with a BMI ≥ 30
* Obtained written informed consent
* Symptomatic atrial fibrillation with indication for ablation

Exclusion Criteria:

* Age \<18 years
* Permanent atrial fibrillation (failed Cardioversion or episode duration \> 12 months)
* Previous surgical or interventional therapy of atrial fibrillation
* BMI \> 40
* Pregnant women or women of childbearing potential without a negative pregnancy test within 48 hours prior to treatment
* History of hemorrhagic diathesis or other coagulopathies
* Contraindications for oral anticoagulation
* Hyper- or hypothyroidism
* Drug or chronic alcohol abuse
* Has any condition that would make participation not be in the best interest of the subject
* Incompliance
* Unable to perform athletic exercise due to disease or disability
* Resident outside Hamburg
C: Inclusion Criteria:

Prospective Cohort

* Written informed consent
* Age 18 years and older
* New diagnosis of non-valvular atrial fibrillation (diagnosed within the last 6 weeks) with at least one additional risk factor for stroke and regardless of therapy.

Retrospective validation cohort

* Written informed consent
* Age 18 years and older
* Diagnosis of non-valvular AF (diagnosed 6-24 months prior to enrolment) with at least one additional risk factor for stroke and regardless of therapy.

Exclusion criteria:

* No further follow-up envisaged or possible within enrolling hospital or with associated family practitioner.
* Patients with transient AF secondary to a reversible cause.
* Patients recruited in controlled clinical trials.
D: Inclusion Criteria:

* Patients age is18 years or greater;
* Patients undergoing a first-time ablation procedure for AF;
* Patients with persistent AF;
* Persistent AF will be defined as a sustained episode lasting \> 7 days and less than 3 years.
* Patients with symptomatic AF that is refractory to at least one antiarrhythmic medication;
* At least one episode of persistent AF must have been documented by ECG, holter, loop recorder, telemetry, trans telephonic monitoring (TTM), or implantable device within last 2 years of enrollment in this investigation;
* Patients must be able and willing to provide written informed consent to participate in this investigation; and
* Patients must be willing and able to comply with all peri-ablation and follow-up requirements.

Exclusion Criteria:

* Patients with paroxysmal AF;
* Patients with long-standing persistent AF;
* Patients for whom cardioversion or sinus rhythm will never be attempted/pursued;
* Patients with AF felt to be secondary to an obvious reversible cause;
* Patients with contraindications to systemic anticoagulation with heparin or coumadin or a direct thrombin inhibitor;
* Patients with left atrial size ≥ 60 mm (2D echocardiography, parasternal long axis view); and
* Patients who are pregnant.

Answer: C