Data from a sample of 532 patients seen within seven days of an acute stroke has been analysed to compare the prognostic importance of urinary incontinence with that of a history of any depression of consciousness. Urinary incontinence was more specific and had a higher predictive value. Considering conscious patients with moderate or severe initial disability, after six months 53 per cent of incontinent patients had died and 57 per cent of the survivors were still moderately or severely disabled whereas only 19 per cent of continent patients had died and 80 per cent of survivors made a good recovery. We conclude that early urinary incontinence is an important indicator of poor prognosis, identifying patients who may need extra attention.