Prognostic Risk of Patients With Essential Hypertension for Cardiovascular Events (PROSPECT)

Inclusion Criteria: The inclusion criteria for the study program were as follows: Men or women of any racial background, 18 years of age and older, with systolic BP greater than or equal to160 mm Hg, and presence of three or more cardiovascular risk factors or disease. The qualifying risk factors were male sex, age older than 50 years, verified diabetes mellitus, current smoking, high total cholesterol, left ventricular hypertrophy by electrocardiogram, proteinuria on dipstick and raised serum creatinine between 150 and 265 umol/L. The qualifying diseases were verified coronary disease, cerebrovascular disease or peripheral arterial occlusive disease, or left ventricular hypertrophy with strain pattern. Exclusion Criteria: The exclusion Criteria for the study program were as follows: Secondary hypertension, pregnancy, history of heart failure or left ventricular ejection fraction less than 40%, myocardial infarction within one month, percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty or coronary artery bypass grafting, cerebrovascular disease, severe liver disease, severe chronic renal failure (eGFR less than 30 mL/min/1.73 m2) in the past three months.