Study to Determine if Olmesartan Medoxomil Has the Potential to Benefit the Cardiovascular System in Terms of Arterial Protection

Inclusion Criteria

• •Male and female outpatients
• •Age greater than or equal to 18 years and less than or equal to 75 years
• •Hypertension and metabolic syndrome defined, according to the ATP III/IDF 2005 and ESH/ESC 2007 definitions, as BP greater than or equal to 130/85 mmHg and \<150/95 mmHg (i.e. untreated high normal BP or "low range" mild hypertension) and at least 2 of the following traits at:
• •Abdominal obesity (waist circumference \>102 cm for men and \>88 cm for women)
• •Triglyceride level greater than or equal to 150 mg/dL
• •High density lipoprotein (HDL) \<40 mg/dL for men and \<50 mg/dL for women
• •Fasting blood glucose greater than or equal to 110 mg/dL and \<126 mg/dL (i.e. no type 2 diabetes)
• •No anti-hypertensive treatment or treatment with only one anti-hypertensive medication within the last 3 months. Note: treatment with angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARB)or angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACE) is not allowed within the last 6 months.