Objective   To explore the applicability of SF-36 of Chinese version in hypertensive patients of rural area.

  Methods   Based on the baseline investigation, a random sample of 190 hypertensive patients and 380 controls matched in sex, nationality and age(±2)are drawn out, which are investigated by SF-36.

  Results   Persons with hypertension are reported lower scores in five dimensions: bodily pain(BP), general health perception(GH), vitality(VT), social functioning(SF)and mental health(MH)(P < 0.05 or P < 0.01);The total internal consistency is 0.89 and the values of cronbach's alpha coefficient in physical functioning(PF), role limitation because of physical health(RP), BP, GH, role limitation because of emotional health problem(RE)and MH are above 0.6;The values of correlation coefficient in PF, RP, BP, GH and RE are below their values of Cronbach's alpha coefficient respectively.

  Conclusion   Hypertensive patients are reported lower scores of quality of life than the general population in more than half of the dimensions, and there are good internal consistency and structure validity, so it is eligible to carry out the evaluation of quality of life on hypertensive patients in rural area using the SF-36.