OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the role of treatment approach (CHD or CAPD) on the self-perception of QoL in uremic patients. Cross-sectional matched pair study of CHD and CAPD subjects. METHODS: 62 matched pairs of patients (30 M and 32 F), median age 59 years were studied. The CHD and CAPD groups were similar for demographic and social variables. Higher percentage of patients with diuresis > 500 ml/die and hypertension were registred in CAPD patients. Nutritional Status was evaluated by Subjective Global Assessment (SGA). The comorbidity of each patient was stratified by Index of Co-Existent Disease (ICED). The MOS-Short Form 36 questionnaire was filled at home by patients to evaluate their HRQoL. The eight multi-items scales, General Health (GH), Role Physical (RP), Physical Function (PF), Role Emotional (RE), Social Function (SF), Bodily Pain (BP), Emotional Well-Being (EW-B), Energy/Fatigue (EF) were summarized into two scores: Physical Component Score (PCS), Mental Component Score (MCS).The scores were expressed as median value. U-Mann Withney test was used to compare the scores of the eight domains measured by SF-36. QoL correlates were investigated with a series of logistic regression analyses, where questionnaire scores, dychotomised using the median value as cut-off, were the depend variables. Results are thus expressed in terms of Odds Ratio. RESULTS: The patients on CAPD had a better, but not statistically significant, self-perception of GH, SFand BP. The scores of the other domains were significantly better in CAPD than in CHD patients (RP: 37vs37p<0,02; PF: 75vs20p<0.001; RE: 83vs20p<0.0002; EWB: 50vs45p<0.0001; EF: 64vs52p<0.01; PCS: 40vs36p<0.05; MCS: 43vs39 p<0.05). Among clinical correlates, female sex (OR: 3.34-95% CI: 1.12-9.03 p<0.002), age>58 years (OR: 3.81-95% CI -1.33-10.9 p<0.01), SGA?1 (OR: 5.6-95% CI: 1.8-17.5 p<0.001) high comorbidity (OR: 2.25-95% CI: 1.5-13.4 p<0.005) were significantly associated to lower values of PCS. MCS was lower in patients with diuresis <500ml/die. CONCLUSIONS: Patients on CAPD had a better self-perception of QoL until significant diuresis was manteined.