Efficacy and Safety of Valsartan and the Combination of Valsartan and Simvastatin

Inclusion Criteria: * Male or female patients at least 50 years of age * Mild to moderate essential systolic hypertension (grades 1 and 2 WHO classification) defined as MSSBP ≥ 150 mmHg and \<180mmHg * Simultaneous primary hypercholesterolemia or mixed dislipidemia (Fredrickson Types IIa and IIb) defined by LDL-C level ≥ 130 mg/dL and \<190 mg/dL and triglyceride levels ≤ 400 mg/dL despite dietary therapy * Off medication at randomization Exclusion Criteria: * Severe hypertension (grade 3 WHO classification * ≥ 180 mm Hg systolic or ≥ 110 mm Hg (diastolic) * secondary form of hypertension * known Keith-Wagener Grade III or IV hypertensive retinopathy * history of hypertensive encephalopathy or cerebrovascular accident within the preceding 12 months * transient ischemic cerebral attack during the preceding 6 months * dyslipidemia secondary to other causes * Type 1 diabetes mellitus * Type 2 diabetes mellitus with poor glucose control * history of systemic inflammatory diseases * serum CK more than twice ULN * sodium depletion * malignancy in preceding 5 years history of heart failure * myocardial infarction within the preceding 12 months * second or third degree heart block * concomitant refractory angina pectoris * symptomatic arrhythmia * valvular heart disease * Any condition/surgery that may alter absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion of any drug (e.g. history of major gastrointestinal tract surgery, inflammatory bowel syndrome, pancreatic dysfunction, impaired renal or liver function)