OBJECTIVES: There are few studies which have examined the role of Health related quality of life (HRQoL) as independent predictor of death in patients with heart failure (HF). The Minnesota Living with Heart Failure Questionnaire (MLHFQ) is a specific instrument which has 21 items with an overall scale, physical (8 items) and emotional (5 items) subscales. The aim of this study was to evaluate the performance of HRQoL as predictor of mortality at 1-year adjusted by comorbidities, gender and age. METHODS: Prospective study with 556 patients admitted by HF in 5 Spanish Hospitals. Patients completed the MLHFQ during their hospitalization. MLHFQ items are scoring from 0 (best) to 5 (worse). Total score ranges from 0 to 105, physical domain from 0 to 40 and emotional from 0 to 25. Mortality was registered through hospital clinical records and Spanish National Death Index. We used multiple logistic regression models. As result of the very high correlation amongst MLHFQ global score, physical and emotional dimensions we conducted three models, one for each MLHFQ dimension. RESULTS: The mean (SD) age of patients was 76.8 (10.7), and there were a 57.6% of men. At one year we observed 114 deaths (20.5%). Charlson index was divided into three categories, 0-1 (27.9%), 2-3 (38.8%) and greater than 3 (33.3%). The three multivariate models showed that both the total score and MLHFQ subscales, physical and emotional, were significantly associated with the likelihood of 1-year mortality, with an OR (IC95%) of 1.02 (1.01–1.03), 1.05 (1.02–1.08), and 1.04 (1–1.08), respectively. Further, all the adjustment variables resulted significant in the models, showing a higher risk of mortality as the Charlson index category and age increased, and within men. CONCLUSIONS: HRQoL as measured by MLHFQ can be considered as an independent predictor of mortality at 1-year.