OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the reliability and validity of the Seattle Angina Questionnaire (SAQ) used in Chinese patients with Coronary Heart Disease (CHD). METHODS: One hundred twenty-four patients with CHD were selected from April to August 2002, and 118 valid SAQ data were obtained. Male: 56; female: 62, with average age 64 years old. Thirty-five of them were repeated in 14 days after first interview, and all the patients repeated after three months. A subgroup of them was selected randomly to complete the Short form 36 (SF-36) in the first interview. Validity and reliability of SAQ were evaluated. RESULTS: The test-retest reliability for the five domains and the overall scales were £0.989¬£0.576 ¬£0.969 ¬£0.982 ¬£0.980 ¬£0.939¬p=0.000. The Split-half reliability was Rh=£0.842¬p=£0.000¬R=£0.914» Compare the SAQ with SF-36, the r=0.613 (N=46) P=£0.000»the structure validity was evaluated by factor analysis. The SAQ response to the change of the severity of the CHD is more sensitive than SF-36 statistically significantly. CONCLUSION: The Chinese version SAQ is good in its validity, reliability and responsiveness in Chinese patients with CHD.