Atrial Fibrillation Recommendation for Treatment of Hypertension in Patients With AF References that support the recommendation are summarized in Online Data Supplement 48. COR LOE Recommendation IIa B-R 1. Treatment of hypertension with an ARB can be useful for prevention of recurrence Synopsis AF and hypertension are common and often coexistent con- ditions, both of which increase in frequency with age. AF occurs in 3% to 4% of the population >65 years of age.S9.8-3 Hypertension is present in >80% of patients with AF and is by far the most common comorbid condition, regardless of AF is associated with systemic thromboembolism, as recognized in the CHADS2 and CHA2DS2-VASc scoring systems for stroke risk.S9.8-5 It is also associated with gradual worsening of ventricular function, the subsequent development of HF, and increased mortality. Hypertension has long been recognized as a risk factor for AF because it is associated with LVH, decreased diastolic function with impaired LV filling, rising left atrial pressures with left atrial hypertrophy and enlargement, increased atrial fibrosis, and slowing of intra-atrial and interatrial electrical conduction velocities. Such a distortion of atrial anatomy and physiology increases the incidence of AF.S9.8-6 Left atrial pres- sure also increases with ischemic or valvular heart disease and myopathies that are often associated with systemic hyperten- sion, potentially leading to AF. 