Efficacy and Safety of Chronic Administration of Telmisartan as Monotherapy or in Combination With Hydrochlorothiazide or Other Antihypertensive Medications in Patients With Mild to Moderate Hypertension

Inclusion Criteria: * Patients who have met the inclusion criteria for the preceding clinical trial of telmisartan. All patients must give a separate written informed consent for participation in the open-label follow-up. * Mild-to-moderate essential hypertension defined as a mean seated diastolic blood pressure measurement of ≥ 95 mmHg measured by manual cuff sphygmomanometer * Mean seated systolic blood pressure ≥ 140 mmHg, measured my manual cuff * A 24-hour mean diastolic blood pressure, measured by ABPM (ambulatory blood pressure measurement), of ≥ 85 mmHg * Age 18 or older * Patient's written informed consent in accordance with GCP (Good Clinical Practice) and local legislation Exclusion Criteria: * Patients with a clinically significant change in ECG from baseline that was reported as an adverse event during the preceding clinical trial * Patients who have developed a medical condition during the preceding clinical trial that, in the investigator's opinion, may be worsened by treatment or may compromise the safety evaluation of telmisartan * Patients who discontinued the preceding telmisartan clinical trial due to an adverse event * Any other clinical condition which, in the opinion of the investigator, would not allow safe completion of the protocol and safe administration of telmisartan