To evaluate the influence of nonvalvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF) on mortality, functional prognosis and recurrent stroke after first cerebral infarction, 141 cerebral infarction patients without valvular heart disease, which comprised 37 patients with atrial fibrillation, that is NVAF, and 104 patients without atrial fibrillation, were followed without anticoagulant therapy throughout hospitalization. Patients with NVAF were more likely than patients without AF to; have large size of cortical infarction (p < 0.01), present with a depressed mental status (p < 0.01), and develop early recurrence of stroke (p < 0.05). These led to significantly greater rates of mortality (p < 0.001) and some types of serious morbidity (p < 0.01). Age was the primary predictor of mortality in patients without AF, but had no impact on survival in patients with NVAF. Infarct size exerted the greatest influence on mortality and functional status of survivors in patient with NVAF
