Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common arrhythmia inclinical practice. Several conventional and novel predictorsof AF development and progression (from paroxysmalto persistent and permanent types) have been reported.The most important predictor of AF progression ispossibly the arrhythmia itself. The electrical, mechanicaland structural remodeling determines the perpetuationof AF and the progression from paroxysmal to persistentand permanent forms. Common clinical scores such asthe hypertension, age ≥ 75 years, transient ischemicattack or stroke, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease,and heart failure and the congestive heart failure,hypertension, age ≥ 75 years, diabetes mellitus, stroke/transient ischemic attack, vascular disease, age 65-74years, sex category scores as well as biomarkers relatedto inflammation may also add important information onthis topic. There is now increasing evidence that even inpatients with so-called lone or idiopathic AF, the arrhythmiais the manifestation of a structural atrial disease whichhas recently been defined and described as fibrotic atrialcardiomyopathy. Fibrosis results from a broad rangeof factors related to AF inducing pathologies such ascell stretch, neurohumoral activation, and oxidativestress. The extent of fibrosis as detected either by lategadolinium enhancementmagnetic resonance imaging or electroanatomic voltage mapping may guide thetherapeutic approach based on the arrhythmia substrate.The knowledge of these risk factors may not only delayarrhythmia progression, but also reduce the arrhythmiaburden in patients with first detected AF. The presentreview highlights on the conventional and novel risk