Aim To investigate the survival status and influencing factors of hospitalized patients with cerebral infarction complicated with carotid atherosclerosis for 1-year follow-up, so as to provide evidence-based basis for prolonging the survival period and reducing the mortality rate. Methods From April 2017 to August 8,8 inpatients with cerebral infarction and carotid atherosclerosis admitted to Changsha Central Hospital Affiliated to University of South China were enrolled and followed up for 1 year. According to their prognosis, the patients were divided into survival group and death group. The clinical characteristics of the two groups were compared. Cox proportional hazards regression model was used to analyze the factors affecting the survival status of the patients. Results Among 548 patients, 36 patients died during the follow-up period, with a mortality rate of 6.57%. Univariate analysis showed that marital status, education level, heart disease, age and triglyceride were the risk factors of death in patients with cerebral infarction and carotid atherosclerosis during the follow-up period (P＜0.05). Multivariate Cox proportional hazards regression model analysis showed that marital status (no spouse) (HR 1.6,5% CI 1.086-2.776), heart disease (HR 2.3,5% CI 1.156-4.752) increased the risk of death in hospitalized patients with cerebral infarction and carotid atherosclerosis, and high education level (HR 0.5,5% CI 0.044-0.952) reduced the death risk. Conclusions The hospitalized patients with cerebral infarction and carotid atherosclerosis with no spouse, low education level and heart disease have higher death risk. After discharge, the family members should strengthen the comprehensive care and humanistic care for the patients with cerebral infarction and carotid atherosclerosis who have no spouse or have heart disease, so as to reduce the risk of death.