Objective To analyse the quality of life in patients with severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) for 10 years. Methods Twenty-five SARS patients were collected as SARS group and 25 healthy persons were used as control group. There were no significant differences in general clinical data between two groups. The quality of life of the respondents was evaluated by the MOS item short form health survey (SF-36) including physiological function, physical pain, general health condition, energy, social function, emotional function and mental health. The pulmonary function indicators including forced vital capacity (FVC), one second forced expiratory volume (FEV1), one second rate (FEV1/FVC), total lung capacity (TLC), residual volume (RV), corrected breath diffusing capacity (TLCOc SB) and corrected dispersion rate TLCOc/VA were also compared between two groups. The correlation between each dimension score of pulmonary function indexes and quality of life were analyzed in SARS group. Data of hip and femoral head necrosis were detected by MRI scan in SARS group of patients. Results Total quality of life score was poor in 23 cases (92.0%), and moderate quality of life score in 2 cases (8.0%). The quality of life score was lower in SARS group than that of control group (P<0.01). Data of TLCOc SB was lower in SARS group than that of control group. The score of physiological function was positively correlated with FEV1 and FEV1/FVC. The score of physical pain was positively correlated with FEV1/FVC (P<0.05). There were no significant differences between quality of life score and pulmonary function indicators. There were 11 cases (44%) of avascular necrosis of femoral head, and 14 cases (56%) of non-avascular necrosis of femoral head in SARS group. The score of physiological function was lower in femoral head necrosis group than that of non necrosis group (P<0.05). ConclusionThe lower quality of life in patients with SARS is not only related with psychological factors but also related with physical factors. The damage of pulmonary function and (or) necrosis of femoral head affect the quality of life in patients with SARS, especially the physiological function.