OBJECTIVE: The Vaizey score is a tool to assess the severity of faecal incontinence and to determine treatment effect. As clinicians develop the score, it may not reflect the overall health impact of faecal incontinence. This study investigates the association between the Vaizey score and health-related utility before patients received treatment. METHODS: Baseline data from a prospective diagnostic cohort study were used to evaluate the incontinence score and the health utility of patients. The Vaizey score (0 (continent) - 24 (totally incontinent)) consists of items concerning the type (solid, liquid, gas) and frequency of faecal incontinence, the use of pads and constipating medication, and the amount of social invalidation. Health utility was calculated by a simple additive model using EuroQol5D data on mobility, self-care, daily activities, pain/discomfort and anxiety/depression. RESULTS: Data from 89 (13 men; mean age 59) patients were analysed. On average, patients suffered from incontinence for 8.7 years, the mean Vaizey score was 18.5 and mean utility 0.82. Lower Vaizey scores coincided with higher health utility values (Spearman'sr = -0.316, p <0.01). Patients indicating any problems on a EuroQol dimension showed higher Vaizey scores than patients without problems; however, this was only significant for daily activities (Mann-Whitney U = 597.5 p <0.001) and anxiety/depression (Mann-Whitney U = 685, p <0.05). CONCLUSION: Before treatment the Vaizey score was significantly correlated with total utility and was associated with two dimensions of the EuroQol: daily activities and anxiety/depression. Further studies will investigate whether this significant relation is still present after receiving treatment. If this relation is absent potential mechanisms (e.g. coping style) that could explain discrepancies will be investigated.