Objective Fecal incontinence is a problem with a high prevalence. Patients generally suffer from their problems for many years. It has been shown that quality of life is negatively affected but health economic data for fecal incontinence are limited. The aim of this study was to estimate the costs associated with fecal incontinence in a large outpatient study group, taking a societal perspective.

Material and methods Based on questionnaire data, we calculated the costs of health-care resources, out-of-pocket expenses and costs associated with production losses in paid and unpaid work.

Results Data were available for 253 patients, of which 228 (90%) were female and 209 (83%) were treated in an academic medical center. The mean age of patients was 59 years (SD±13) with a mean duration of incontinence of 8.5 years (SD±8.3). Total costs were estimated on €2169 per fecal incontinent patient per year. Production losses in paid and unpaid work accounted for more than half of the total costs and costs of health-care visits accounted for almost a fifth of total costs. Costs associated with protective material (partially reimbursable and not reimbursable) formed only one-tenth of total costs, while incontinence medication was responsible for only 5% of total costs.

Conclusions More than half of total costs of fecal incontinence are made up of indirect non-medical costs. The costs associated with the use of incontinence material and other personal expenses are limited.