Background: Termination of atrial fibrillation (AF) during catheter ablation has been used as one of the procedural endpoints for AF ablation. However, the data about the relationship of arrhythmia termination during ablation and the recurrence of atrial arrhythmia durng follow up is limited. Methods: A total of 149 patients who underwent catheter ablation for drug- refractory persistent AF were included. A stepwise ablation approach included circumferential pulmonary vein isolation followed by left atrial and right atrial complex fractionated electrogram guided ablation. Results: AF was terminated by radiofrequency application in 109 (73%) patients. Among them, 45 (41%) patients converted to sinus directly, while 64 (59%) patients via atrial tachycardia (AT). There was a lower recurrence rate of atrial arrhythmia in whom AF was terminated during the index procedure compared with those who had not (45% vs. 65%, p=0.038, follow-up 17짹7 months). Among patients whom AF was terminated, there was no significant difference in recurrence rate according to the termination mode, whether conversion to AT or not. (p=NS). However, patients who converted to AT showed higher recurrence rate of AT . (63% vs. 83%, p=0.048). Multivariate logistic regression analysis demonstrated termination during ablation is independent factor predcting the recurrence of atrial arrhythmia (OR 2.19, 95 CI 0.994-4.825, p = 0.05) Conclusions: Termination of AF during catheter ablation is associated with a better clinical outcome in patients with persistent AF.