Final answer:
The valvular disease most commonly associated with atrial fibrillation is rheumatic mitral valve stenosis, which is often a result of carditis from rheumatic fever. This condition causes the mitral valve to become rigid, affecting blood flow and causing the heart to exert extra effort to pump blood.
Step-by-step explanation:
Association of Atrial Fibrillation with Valvular Disease
The valvular disease most commonly associated with atrial fibrillation is rheumatic mitral valve stenosis. This condition stems from an autoimmune response to bacterial infection, often Rheumatic fever following Streptococcus pyogenes infection, which leads to inflammation of the heart called carditis. In the context of rheumatic fever, the mitral valve, also known as the bicuspid or left atrioventricular valve, is commonly affected. Over time, the valve may become rigid, a condition known as stenosis, affecting the flow of blood and forcing the heart to work harder.
Mitral regurgitation is also a widespread valvular disorder, and when a valve functions improperly, the condition is generally termed as insufficiency, named after the specific valve affected, such as aortic insufficiency or mitral insufficiency.
Despite the prevalence of various forms of valvular disease, including aortic valve stenosis and mitral valve prolapse, it is rheumatic mitral valve stenosis that is most frequently found in association with atrial fibrillation.