OBJECTIVES: To analyze, for the first time in a large Spanish population of heart failure pts, quality of life according to NYHA class II, III or IV using generic and specific quality of life questionnaires. METHODS: A descriptive analysis of a multicenter, prospective observational study was performed. Pts who met inclusion criteria were followed-up for a period of 12 months, with 3 visits programmed at baseline, 6 months and 12 months. A total of 9 Spanish hospitals were involved in the study. Questionnaires used to measure quality of life were: EQ-5D (generic questionnaire), Minessotta living with heart failure- MLWHF (specific questionnaire) and Barthel Index (index of independence). RESULTS: A total of 330 pts completed the study, 74.2% men, mean age was 62.9 years. 82.4% were in NYHA class II, 16.4% NYHA class III and 1.2% NYHA class IV. A total of 20 pts died along the period of study and 25 pts did not complete follow up. Significant differences were observed in Barthel Index’s scores depending on class: class II 97.2 ± 7.3 vs. Class III-IV 91.4 ± 14.3. Related to EQ-5D scores, individuals in class II had a mean value of 0.8058 ± 0.2048 (out of 1), and mean VAS value of 56.75 ± 17.39 (out of 100). Individuals in NYHA class III-IV had a mean value of 0.6135 ± 0.3032 (out of 1) and mean VAS value of 50.45 ± 20.24 (out of 100). In a MLWHF questionnaire analyses, pts in NYHA class II showed a mean score of 29.81 ± 18.57 while pts in NYHA class III-IV showed a mean score of 48.53 ± 17.97. CONCLUSIONS: Chronic heart failure patients in NYHA III and IV seemed to have a higher grade for physical disability and worse health-related quality of life compared to patients in NYHA II and population of similar age.