Please select the eligibility criteria that correspond to the clinical trial below.
Title: A Randomised, Double-blind, Double Dummy, Active Controlled, Parallel Group, Forced Titration Study to Compare the Fixed-dose Combination of Telmisartan 80mg Plus Hydrochlorothiazide 25mg (T80/HCTZ25) Versus Telmisartan 80mg (T80) Monotherapy as First Line Therapy in Patients With Grade 2 or Grade 3 Hypertension (Systolic Blood Pressure (SBP) >=160 mmHg and Diastolic Blood Pressure (DBP) >=100 mmHg)
Brief Summary: The primary objective of this trial is to demonstrate that the fixed-dose combination of T80/HCTZ25 is superior as first line therapy in reducing seated trough cuff Systolic Blood Pressure(SBP) compared to the monotherapy of T80 in patients with grade 2 or grade 3 hypertension (SBP\>=160 mmHg and Diastolic Blood Pressure(DBP)\>=100 mmHg).


Options:
A: Inclusion Criteria:

- diagnosis of essential hypertension

Exclusion Criteria:

* pregnancy, breast-feeding, unwilling to use effective contraception (if female of child-bearing potential).
* development of any condition in the preceding trial that could be worsened by telmisartan 40mg/amlodipine 10mg (T40/A10) or telmisartan 80mg/amlodipine 10mg (T80/A10).
* discontinuation from the preceding trial.
* known or suspected secondary hypertension.
* mean seated systolic blood pressure (SBP) \>= 180 mmHg and/or mean seated diastolic blood pressure (DBP) \>= 120 mmHg at any visit.
* any clinically significant hepatic impairment or severe renal impairment bilateral renal artery stenosis or renal artery stenosis in a solitary kidney or post post-renal transplant.
* clinically relevant hyperkalaemia.
* uncorrected volume or sodium depletion.
* primary aldosteronism.
* hereditary fructose or lactose intolerance.
* symptomatic congestive heart failure.
* patients who have previously experienced symptoms characteristic of angioedema during treatment with angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors or angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs).
* any new drug or alcohol dependency since signing consent of the preceding trial.
* concurrent participation in another clinical trial or any investigational therapy since completing the preceding trial.
* hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy, hemodynamically relevant stenosis of the aortic or mitral valve.
* known allergic hypersensitivity to any component of the formulations under investigation. \[Includes known hypersensitivity to telmisartan or other ARBs or amlodipine or other dihydropyridine calcium channel blockers (CCBs).\] non-compliance with study medication (defined as \<80% or \>120%) during the preceding trial.
* administration of ARBs or dihydropyridine CCBs (apart from trial medication). any other clinical condition which, in the opinion of the investigator, would not allow safe completion of the protocol and safe administration of telmisartan and amlodipine.
B: Inclusion criteria:

1. Ability to provide written informed consent in accordance with Good Clinical Practice and local legislation;
2. Age 18 years or older;
3. Patients with grade 2 or grade 3 hypertension as defined SBP\>=160 mmHg and DBP\>=100 mmHg at randomization
4. Ability to stop any current antihypertensive therapy without unacceptable risk to the patient (Investigator's discretion)

Exclusion criteria:

1. Pre-menopausal women (last menstruation \<=1 year prior to signing informed consent) who: a) are not surgically sterile; or b) are nursing, or c) are pregnant, or d) are of childbearing potential and are NOT practicing acceptable methods of birth control, or do NOT plan to continue practicing an acceptable method throughout the trial. The only acceptable methods of birth control are: Intra-Uterine Device (IUD), Oral contraceptives, Implantable or injectable contraceptives, Estrogen patch Hormonal birth control should have been in use for at least three months before the study and continue at least until the next menstrual period after completing the study.
2. Night shift workers who routinely sleep during the daytime and whose work hours include midnight to 4:00 a.m.
3. Known or suspected secondary hypertension (e.g., renal artery stenosis orphaeochromocytoma)
4. Mean in-clinic seated cuff SBP\>= 200 mmHg and/or DBP \>=120 mmHg
5. Renal dysfunction as defined by the following laboratory parameters: Serum creatinine \>3.0 mg/dL (or \>265 umol/L) and/or known creatinine clearance of \<30 ml/min and/or clinical markers of severe renal impairment.
6. Bilateral renal artery stenosis, renal artery stenosis in a solitary kidney, post-renal transplant patients or patients with only one kidney
7. Clinically relevant hypokalemia or hyperkalemia (i.e., \<3.5 mmol/L or \>5.5 mmol/L, may be rechecked for suspected error in result)
8. Uncorrected sodium or volume depletion
9. Primary aldosteronism.
10. Hereditary fructose intolerance
11. Biliary obstructive disorders (e.g., cholestasis) or hepatic insufficiency
12. Congestive heart failure New York Heart Association functional class Congestive Heart Failure III-IV (Refer to Appendix 10.3)
13. Contra-indication to a placebo run-in period (e.g., stroke with-in the past 6 months, myocardial infarction, cardiac surgery, percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty, unstable angina or coronary artery bypass graft within the past 3 months prior to start of run in period)
14. Clinically significant ventricular tachycardia, atrial fibrillation, atrial flutter or other clinically relevant cardiac arrhythmias as determined by the Investigator
15. Hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy, severe obstructive coronary artery disease, aortic stenosis, hemodynamically relevant stenosis of the aortic or mitral valve
16. Patients whose diabetes has not been stable and controlled for at least the past 3 months as defined by an Glycosylated Hemoglobin \>=10%
17. Patients who have previously experienced symptoms characteristic of angioedema during treatment with ACE inhibitors or angiotensin-II receptor antagonists
18. History of drug or alcohol dependency within 6 months prior to signing the informed consent form
19. Concomitant administration of any medications known to affect blood pressure, except medications allowed by the protocol
20. Any investigational drug therapy within 1 month of signing the informed consent
21. Known hypersensitivity to any component of the trial drugs (telmisartan, hydrochlorothiazide, or placebo)
22. History of non-compliance or inability to comply with prescribed medications or protocol procedures (less than 80% or more than 120%, especially during run-in)
23. Any other clinical condition which, in the opinion of the investigator, would not allow safe completion of the protocol and safe administration of the trial medication
C: Inclusion Criteria:

* Adults (≥ 18 years)
* The participant is able to give informed consent.
* Established atherothrombotic cardiovascular disease (CVD) or high cardiovascular risk, of for individuals without established cardiovascular disease, a calculated 5 year CVD risk of 15% or greater (calculated using the 1991 Anderson Framingham risk equation with adjustments as defined by the New Zealand Guidelines Group recommendations)
* The trial Investigator considers that each of the polypill components are indicated
* The trial Investigator is unsure as to whether a polypill-based strategy or usual care is better.

Exclusion Criteria:

* Contraindication to any of the components of the polypill (e.g. known intolerance to aspirin, statins, or ACE inhibitors,pregnancy or likely to become pregnant during the treatment period).
* The treating doctor considers that changing a participant's cardiovascular medications would put the participant at risk (e.g. symptomatic heart failure, high dose βblocker required to manage angina or for rate control in atrial fibrillation,accelerated hypertension, severe renal insufficiency, a history of severe resistant hypertension)
* Known situation where medication regimen might be altered for a significant length of time, e.g. current acute cardiovascular event, planned coronary bypass graft operation.
* Unlikely to complete the trial (e.g. lifethreatening condition other than cardiovascular disease) or adhere to the trial procedures or attend study visits (e.g. major psychiatric condition, dementia).
D: Inclusion Criteria:

* At least 55 years of age.
* Previously untreated or treated hypertension.
* For patients \>= 60 years, evidence of at least one CV disease or target organ damage, or for patients 55-59 years evidence of at least two CV diseases or target organ damage from two different organ systems as defined in the protocol.

Exclusion Criteria:

* Allergy to any of the drugs administered in this trial.
* Current angina pectoris (ie, no anginal event requiring NTG within 1 month prior to Visit 1).
* Secondary hypertension.
* Refractory hypertension defined as SBP \>= 180 mmHg and/or DBP \>= 110 mmHg unresponsive to triple-drug regimens of sympatholytics, diuretics and vasodilators.
* History of symptomatic heart failure (NYHA classes II-IV) or ejection fraction \< 40%.
* Myocardial infarction, coronary revascularization (CABG or PCI), unstable angina within one month of Visit 1.
* Stroke or transient ischemic event (TIA) within 3 months of Visit 1.
* Significant obstructive valvular cardiovascular disease or any valvular disease expected to lead to surgery during the course of the study.
* Evidence of hepatic disease (AST or ALT values \>= 2 X upper limit of normal).
* Impaired renal function (serum creatinine \>= 2.5 mg/dL (221 µmol/L)).
* Baseline serum potassium of \> 5.2 meq/L not on potassium supplements.
* History of malignancy including leukemia and lymphoma (but not basal cell skin cancer) within the last 5 years.
* History of clinically significant auto immune disorders such as Systemic Lupus Erythematosus.
* Significant non-cardiovascular illness or condition likely to result in death prior to trial completion, e.g., major organ transplant (life expectancy \<5 years).
* Significant cardiovascular disease such as an aortic aneurysm ≥ 6 cm, likely requiring surgical intervention during the course of the study.

Other protocol-defined exclusion criteria applied to the study.

Answer: B