Introduction: The aim was to determine if changes in left atrial peak systolic longitudinal strain (LAS) aft er electric conversion (CV) of atrial fibrillation to sinus rhythm is associated with AF recurrence in hypertensive patients Methods: 25 hypertensive patients with persistent AF and 31 age-matched hypertensive patients with no AF were included in the study. LAS was measured before and 24 hours after cardioversion (CV), using 2D speckle tracking. The follow-up period was of 6 months. We divided AF patients aft er CV in patients who maintained sinus rhythm (MSR) and patients with recurrent atrial fibrillation (RAF) Results: Pre-CV mean LAS was lower in patients with AF as compared to control group (16.9 ± 2.2 vs 34.7 ± 2.9, p < 0.0001). Immediately after CV, we noted a significantly increase in the mean LAS (19.0 ± 2.3 vs 16.9 ± 2.2, p < 0.01), but without reaching the values of the control group. The changes in LAS aft er cardioversion were significantly higher in the patients who maintained sinus rhythm (p < 0.04) than in those who experienced recurrent AF (p = 0.35). Conclusions: Left atrial peak systolic longitudinal strain differed between hypertensive patients with and without AF. Baseline LAS was not associated with AF recurrence. However, a smaller change in LAS after CV was associated with recurrent arrhythmia.