Inclusion criteria

> 55 years old



Stage 1 or stage 2 hypertension

-Untreated hypertension with SBP 140â€“180 mmHg or DBP 90â€“110 mmHg

--But not higher than SBP 180 mmHg or DBP 110 mmHg]

-Or treated with 1â€“2 antihypertensive drugs and BP â‰¥ 160/100 at visit 1 or â‰¥180/110 mm Hg at visit 2, when medication may have been partially withdrawn



At least one additional risk factor for coronary heart disease (CHD)

-Previous (>6 months) myocardial infarction or stroke

-Left ventricular hypertrophy demonstrated by electrocardiography or echocardiography

-History of type 2 diabetes

-Current cigarette smoking

-High-density lipoprotein cholesterol of less than 35 mg/dL (<0.91 mmol/L)

-Documentation of other atherosclerotic CVD