Objective To investigate circulating level of growth differentiation factor-15 (GDF-15) in patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation (AF). Methods We enrolled 104 consecutive patients with AF (67 are paroxymal AF and 37 are persistent AF) that presented to our hospital between August 2012 and June 2013. Subjects without AF (n=67) was used as controls who were matched for sex, age and atherosclerotic risk factors enrolled in the same period. Serum GDF-15 con-centration was detected by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Echocardiography and laboratory parameters were compared among three groups. The correlation of GDF- 15 and hypersensitive c-reactive protein (hs-CRP) as well as the risk factors of development of AF were also analyzed. Results No significant difference in age, history of hypertension, coro-nary heart disease, and stroke was found among three groups (P>0.05). GDF-15 had significant difference between pa-tients with paroxysmal AF and controls [(1 473.14±628.52)μg/L vs (1 233.592±262.76)μg/L, P=0.012]. GDF-15 level was correlated with hs-CRP (rs=0.172,P=0.044). Multivariable analysis demonstrated that high GDF-15 is a risk factor of devel-opment of paroxysmal AF/AF (OR:1.002, 95%CI:1.000-1.003, P<0.05). Conclusion Patients with AF have a higher se-rum level of GDF-15 compared with controls and GDF-15 level is a risk factor of development of paroxysmal AF/AF.