Olmesartan Medoxomil Versus Losartan Potassium in Patients With Mild to Moderate Essential Hypertension

Inclusion Criteria: * mild to moderated essential hypertension (mean seated diastolic blood pressure ≥ 95 mmHg and \<110 mmHg, mean seated systolic blood pressure \< 180 mmHg) * able to give written informed consent Exclusion Criteria: * known or suspected secondary hypertension * history of chronic hepatic diseases * obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy/clinically significant valvular heart disease * cardiac arrhythmia * unstable angina pectoris * congestive heart insufficiency (New York Heart Association classification III-IV) * bilateral renal artery stenosis * isolated renal artery stenosis * post renal transplantation * history of acute myocardial infarction/percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty or heart surgery within three months before enrollment * retina bleeding/effusion * insulin dependent diabetes mellitus * uncontrolled non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus