<br>        Inclusion Criteria:<br><br>        Should fulfill the eligibility criteria for ACTIVE A or ACTIVE W trial and:<br><br>          -  have a systolic blood pressure of at least 110 mmHg<br><br>          -  not already receiving an angiotensin receptor blocking agent, unless they are willing<br>             and able to be changed to another antihypertensive agent<br><br>          -  no previous intolerance to angiotensin receptor blocking agents<br><br>          -  no proven indication for angiotensin receptor blocking agents, unless an Angiotensin<br>             Converting Enzyme (ACE) inhibitor can be substituted<br><br>        Exclusion Criteria:<br><br>        Patients will be excluded from ACTIVE study if any of the following are present:<br><br>          -  requirement for clopidogrel (such as recent coronary stent procedure)<br><br>          -  requirement for oral anticoagulant (such as prosthetic mechanical heart valve)<br><br>          -  prior intolerance to acetylsalicyclic acid (ASA) or clopidogrel<br><br>          -  documented peptic ulcer disease within the previous 6 months<br><br>          -  prior intracerebral hemorrhage<br><br>          -  significant thrombocytopenia (platelet count <50 x 10(9)/L)<br><br>          -  psychosocial reason making study participation impractical<br><br>          -  geographic reason making study participation impractical<br><br>          -  ongoing alcohol abuse<br><br>          -  mitral stenosis<br><br>          -  pregnant or nursing woman or woman of child bearing potential and not on effective<br>             birth control for at least one month prior to start of study or not willing to<br>             continue on birth control for duration of study<br><br>          -  severe comorbid condition such that the patient is not expected to survive 6 months<br><br>          -  patient currently receiving an investigational pharmacologic agent<br><br>          -  requirement for chronic (> 3 months) non-cyclooxygenase-2 (non-COX-2) inhibitor<br>             nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) therapy unless willing enrolled in ACTIVE<br>             A<br>      ;<br>        Inclusion Criteria:<br><br>        Should fulfill the eligibility criteria for ACTIVE A or ACTIVE W trial and:<br><br>          -  have a systolic blood pressure of at least 110 mmHg<br><br>          -  not already receiving an angiotensin receptor blocking agent, unless they are willing<br>             and able to be changed to another antihypertensive agent<br><br>          -  no previous intolerance to angiotensin receptor blocking agents<br><br>          -  no proven indication for angiotensin receptor blocking agents, unless an Angiotensin<br>             Converting Enzyme (ACE) inhibitor can be substituted<br><br>        Exclusion Criteria:<br><br>        Patients will be excluded from ACTIVE study if any of the following are present:<br><br>          -  requirement for clopidogrel (such as recent coronary stent procedure)<br><br>          -  requirement for oral anticoagulant (such as prosthetic mechanical heart valve)<br><br>          -  prior intolerance to acetylsalicyclic acid (ASA) or clopidogrel<br><br>          -  documented peptic ulcer disease within the previous 6 months<br><br>          -  prior intracerebral hemorrhage<br><br>          -  significant thrombocytopenia (platelet count <50 x 10(9)/L)<br><br>          -  psychosocial reason making study participation impractical<br><br>          -  geographic reason making study participation impractical<br><br>          -  ongoing alcohol abuse<br><br>          -  mitral stenosis<br><br>          -  pregnant or nursing woman or woman of child bearing potential and not on effective<br>             birth control for at least one month prior to start of study or not willing to<br>             continue on birth control for duration of study<br><br>          -  severe comorbid condition such that the patient is not expected to survive 6 months<br><br>          -  patient currently receiving an investigational pharmacologic agent<br><br>          -  requirement for chronic (> 3 months) non-cyclooxygenase-2 (non-COX-2) inhibitor<br>             nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) therapy unless willing enrolled in ACTIVE<br>             A<br>      ;<br>        Inclusion Criteria:<br><br>        Should fulfill the eligibility criteria for ACTIVE A or ACTIVE W trial and:<br><br>          -  have a systolic blood pressure of at least 110 mmHg<br><br>          -  not already receiving an angiotensin receptor blocking agent, unless they are willing<br>             and able to be changed to another antihypertensive agent<br><br>          -  no previous intolerance to angiotensin receptor blocking agents<br><br>          -  no proven indication for angiotensin receptor blocking agents, unless an Angiotensin<br>             Converting Enzyme (ACE) inhibitor can be substituted<br><br>        Exclusion Criteria:<br><br>        Patients will be excluded from ACTIVE study if any of the following are present:<br><br>          -  requirement for clopidogrel (such as recent coronary stent procedure)<br><br>          -  requirement for oral anticoagulant (such as prosthetic mechanical heart valve)<br><br>          -  prior intolerance to acetylsalicyclic acid (ASA) or clopidogrel<br><br>          -  documented peptic ulcer disease within the previous 6 months<br><br>          -  prior intracerebral hemorrhage<br><br>          -  significant thrombocytopenia (platelet count <50 x 10(9)/L)<br><br>          -  psychosocial reason making study participation impractical<br><br>          -  geographic reason making study participation impractical<br><br>          -  ongoing alcohol abuse<br><br>          -  mitral stenosis<br><br>          -  pregnant or nursing woman or woman of child bearing potential and not on effective<br>             birth control for at least one month prior to start of study or not willing to<br>             continue on birth control for duration of study<br><br>          -  severe comorbid condition such that the patient is not expected to survive 6 months<br><br>          -  patient currently receiving an investigational pharmacologic agent<br><br>          -  requirement for chronic (> 3 months) non-cyclooxygenase-2 (non-COX-2) inhibitor<br>             nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) therapy unless willing enrolled in ACTIVE<br>             A<br>      ;<br>        Inclusion Criteria:<br><br>        Should fulfill the eligibility criteria for ACTIVE A or ACTIVE W trial and:<br><br>          -  have a systolic blood pressure of at least 110 mmHg<br><br>          -  not already receiving an angiotensin receptor blocking agent, unless they are willing<br>             and able to be changed to another antihypertensive agent<br><br>          -  no previous intolerance to angiotensin receptor blocking agents<br><br>          -  no proven indication for angiotensin receptor blocking agents, unless an Angiotensin<br>             Converting Enzyme (ACE) inhibitor can be substituted<br><br>        Exclusion Criteria:<br><br>        Patients will be excluded from ACTIVE study if any of the following are present:<br><br>          -  requirement for clopidogrel (such as recent coronary stent procedure)<br><br>          -  requirement for oral anticoagulant (such as prosthetic mechanical heart valve)<br><br>          -  prior intolerance to acetylsalicyclic acid (ASA) or clopidogrel<br><br>          -  documented peptic ulcer disease within the previous 6 months<br><br>          -  prior intracerebral hemorrhage<br><br>          -  significant thrombocytopenia (platelet count <50 x 10(9)/L)<br><br>          -  psychosocial reason making study participation impractical<br><br>          -  geographic reason making study participation impractical<br><br>          -  ongoing alcohol abuse<br><br>          -  mitral stenosis<br><br>          -  pregnant or nursing woman or woman of child bearing potential and not on effective<br>             birth control for at least one month prior to start of study or not willing to<br>             continue on birth control for duration of study<br><br>          -  severe comorbid condition such that the patient is not expected to survive 6 months<br><br>          -  patient currently receiving an investigational pharmacologic agent<br><br>          -  requirement for chronic (> 3 months) non-cyclooxygenase-2 (non-COX-2) inhibitor<br>             nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) therapy unless willing enrolled in ACTIVE<br>             A<br>