Effect of Valsartan on Lipid Subfractions in Hypertensive Patients With Metabolic Syndrome

Inclusion Criteria: * Male or female outpatients \>= 18 years of age at Visit 1 * Hypertension (systolic blood pressure \>= 140 mmHg and \< 170 mmHg and/or diastolic blood pressure \>= 90 mmHg and \< 105 mmHg * Elevated triglycerides * Metabolic syndrome as defined by Adult Treatment Panel III criteria Exclusion Criteria: * MSSBP \>= 170 mmHg and/or MSDBP \>= 105 mmHg at any time between Visit 1 and Visit 2 * Diabetes mellitus * Patients treated with lipid lowering drugs in the last 6 weeks prior to Visit 1 * A history of cardiovascular disease, including angina pectoris, myocardial infarction, coronary artery bypass graft, percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty, transient ischemic attack, stroke, and peripheral artery disease, heart failure NYHA II - IV Other protocol-defined inclusion/exclusion criteria may apply