Objective To investigate the risk factors for the occurrence of cerebral infarction in patients with capsular warning syndrome (CWS). Methods Consecutive patients with transient ischemic attack (TIA) meeting the CWS clinical manifestations were col ected retrospectively. They were divided into either a cerebral infarction group or a non-cerebral infarction group according to the brain diffusion weighted imaging findings. The independent risk factors for patients with CWS were identified through the comparison of demographic and baseline clinical data. Results A total of 39 patients were enrol ed, including 25 males (64. 1%) and 14 females (35. 9%), and their mean age was 58. 9 ± 10. 3 years. There were 21 patients in the cerebral infarction group and 18 in the non-cerebral infarction group. Compared with the non-cerebral infarction group, the age of patients in the cerebral infarction group was older (62. 5 ± 9. 3 years vs. 54. 8 ± 10. 2 years;t=2. 470, P=0. 018). The constituent ratio of the patients with a history of previous stroke or transient ischemic attack was higher (33. 3% vs. 5. 6%; P=0. 049), the fasting blood glucose level was higher (8. 2 ± 3. 2 mmol/L vs. 6. 0 ± 1. 3 mmol/L; t=2. 748, P=0. 009), and ABCD2 score was higher (5. 2 ± 1. 1 vs. 3. 5 ± 1. 1;t=4. 734, P<0. 001). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that the ABCD2 score was an independent risk factor for cerebral infarction in patients with CWS (odds ratio, 4. 529, 95% confidence interval 1. 233-16. 627;P=0. 023). Conclusions The higher ABCD2 score was an independent risk factor for the occurrence of cerebral infarction in patients with CWS. It can be used as an evaluation tool for predicting the risk of cerebral infarction in patients with CWS.