OBJECTIVES: 1) compare the patients health perceived between diagnosed of COPD, arterial hypertension (HTA) and diabetes mellitus (DM) in Primary Care; and 2) to analyze the sociodemographics features associate to the quality of life (QOL) in these chronic pathologies. METHOD: Cross-sectional descriptive study, from 2000-2002. We selected a random systematic sample: 624 hypertension ones, 148 HTA+DM and 278 COPD. Dependent variable: Each patient fulfill the Nottingham Health Profile (NHP). Independent variables: age, gender, educational level, marital status, labour situation. Statistical analysis: descriptive (mean ± SD, absolute and relative frequencies) and bivariante analysis (ANOVA). RESULTS: Age: COPD (66,9±8,9 years); HTA (64,7±10,3); HTA+DM (69,6±9,6). Gender: male 88%; 40% and 23% (in COPD, HTA and HTA+DM respectively). Homogenous distribution between educational level, labour situation retirement and marital status between groups. NHP: in HTA+DM population and COPD she is similar, with the exception of the dimensions social isolation, (higher score in the COPD) and pain (greater score in the HTA+DM). Relation between sociodemographics characteristics and health perceived: the QOL perceived is worse in the women than in the men (p <0,05). To greater age, worse physical mobility (p <0,05); exists a positive relation between the labour situation (activity) and physical mobility of patients EPOC and for all the factors valued by the NHP in the HTA patients. The educational levels are influences positively in the perception of certain areas of the QOL in HTA (all) and HTA+DM (pain, emotional reactions, physical mobility and total NHP). Married being repels of favorable way in concrete aspects of the QOL of patients COPD (sleep, social isolation and health) and in all those of the HTA ones patients. CONCLUSION: Any subject affection of a chronic pathology perceives a health worse than the general population. The sociodemographics features influence more in those patients than they present less symptomatic pathologies (HTA), that those that suffers more symptomatic diseases (COPD or HTA+DM).