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Aim: Preoperative factors predictive of permanent stoma creation were investigated in a long‐term follow‐up of patients with mid or low rectal cancer. Method: We included patients who underwent radical resection for mid or low rectal cancer with available data for preoperative anal function measured by manometry and Faecal Incontinence Severity Index questionnaire between January 2005 and December 2015 in three tertiary referral hospitals. A permanent stoma was defined as a stoma present until the patient's last follow‐up visit or death. Preoperative factors that predicted permanent stoma creation were analysed. Results: Over a median follow‐up of 57.4 months (range 12–143 months), a permanent stoma was created in 144/577 (25.0%) patients, including 89 (15.4%) who underwent abdominoperineal resection, one (0.2%) who underwent Hartmann's operation without reversal, 15 (2.6%) with a diverting ileostomy at the time of initial sphincter‐preserving surgery without undergoing stoma reversal, and 39 (6.8%) who underwent permanent ileostomy formation after sphincter‐preserving surgery. Patients with permanent stoma creation had a shorter tumour distance from the anal verge (P < 0.001), larger tumour size (P = 0.020) and higher preoperative Faecal Incontinence Severity Index score (P = 0.020). On multivariable analysis, tumour distance from the anal verge predicted permanent stoma formation (relative risk 0.53 per centimetre increase; 95% confidence interval 0.46–0.60; P < 0.001) but preoperative anal function did not. Conclusion: Tumour distance from the anal verge was the only preoperative determinant of permanent stoma creation in rectal cancer patients. These data may help mid and low rectal cancer patients understand the need for permanent stoma. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]