Efficacy of Perindopril to Prevent Recurrence of Atrial Fibrillation in Patients With Essential Hypertension

Inclusion Criteria: * Patients must be age 18 years or older. * Patients may be either male or female without childbearing potential (or with adequate contraception). * Patients must have a current diagnosis of essential hypertension with systolic blood pressure (SBP) ≤ 160 mmHg and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) ≤ 100 mmHg at the time of inclusion visit AND * Patients must have had at least one episode of symptomatic paroxysmal or persistent atrial fibrillation within the preceding six months: * With an indication for cardioversion in the case of persistent AF * With electrocardiogram (ECG) documentation of AF * With duration of an AF episode of at least 10 minutes Exclusion Criteria: * Unlikely to co-operate in the study * Pregnancy, breastfeeding, or possibility of becoming pregnant during the study (patients must have adequate contraception as determined by the investigator). * Alcoholism or drug abuse * Participation in another study at the same time or within 30 days of randomisation. * Left ventricular systolic dysfunction with an ejection fraction of 45% or less * Myocardial infarction within the past month prior to the selection visit * Cardiac or thoracic surgery within the past 3 months or likely to be performed during the trial * Chronic AF (continuously present for \> 6 months) * AF secondary to an acute reversible condition (e.g. post-operative atrial fibrillation, hyperthyroidism) * Currently requiring class I or class III anti-arrhythmic drug therapy…