Please select the eligibility criteria that correspond to the clinical trial below.
Title: A Comparison Between Diuretics and Angiotensin-receptor Blocker Agents in Patients With Stage I Hypertension: PREVER-treatment Study
Brief Summary: High blood pressure is the major risk factor for Cardiovascular disease (CVD). The prevalence of hypertension in Brazil was established in population-based studies conducted in different cities and States, varying from 22.3 to 44% of adults.

The benefit of drug treatment of hypertension to prevent major cardiovascular events was consistently demonstrated in a large series of clinical trials controlled by placebo.

Diuretics are at least as efficacious as other blood pressure-lowering drugs, are well tolerated, have longer duration of action and the advantage of very low cost to be used in a population intervention. Chlorthalidone is the more efficacious agent. Its main limitation is to induce hypokalemia in a proportion of patients, an adverse effect that can be antagonized by a potassium-sparing diuretic, as amiloride.

A study comparing diuretic with an ARB agent is therefore recommendable in Brazil, in order to support the decisions of the Health Secretary in regard to blood pressure agents supply for the Brazilian population. Such a study was demanded and funded by the Health and Technology Ministries in Brazil.


Options:
A: 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.
B: Inclusion Criteria:

An average seated home diastolic blood pressure (DBP) \> 85 mmHg and home systolic blood pressure (SBP) \< 180 mmHg. Subjects must also have an average seated (\> 5 minutes) clinic DBP between 90 mmHg and 110 mmHg and SBP \< 180 mmHg

Exclusion Criteria:

secondary forms of HTN, patients currently treated with three or more antihypertensive drugs, isolated systolic HTN, other diseases requiring treatment with BP lowering medications, heart rate \< 55 beats/min, known cardiovascular disease (including history of angina pectoris, heart failure, presence of a cardiac pacemaker, history of myocardial infarction or revascularization procedure, or cerebrovascular disease, including stroke and TIA), diabetes mellitus (Type 1 or 2), renal insufficiency (serum creatinine \> 1.5 in men or 1.4 in women), primary renal disease, pregnancy or lactation, liver enzymes \> 2.5 upper limits of normal, current treatment with NSAIDS, cyclooxygenase-2 (COX2) inhibitors, oral contraceptives or estrogen.
C: Inclusion Criteria:

* patients older than 40 years of age with stage I hypertension

Exclusion Criteria:

* low life expectancy
* other indications for the use of diuretics, such as cardiovascular disease
* intolerance to the study drugs
* pregnancy
D: Inclusion Criteria:

* Outpatients who are required a combination therapy with sitting systolic blood pressure ≥ 140 mmHg or diastolic blood pressure ≥ 90 mmHg.
* Outpatients aged over 40 years and less than 85 years (inclusive), regardless of sex.
* Previously untreated patients or patients who are on other therapy, which can be converted to 4mg of benidipine.
* Patients who can be treated with benidipine, angiotensin receptor blockers, β-blockers, and thiazide diuretics.

Exclusion Criteria:

* Seated systolic blood pressure ≥ 200 mmHg or seated diastolic blood pressure ≥ 120 mmHg.
* Secondary hypertension.
* Type I diabetes mellitus or type 2 diabetes on insulin treatment.
* History of cerebrovascular disorder, myocardial infarction, angina pectoris, coronary angioplasty or coronary artery bypass graft surgery within 6 months prior to enrolment in the study.
* Heart failure (New York Heart Association \[NYHA\] functional classification II, III or IV).
* Chronic atrial fibrillation or atrial flutter.
* Congenital heart disease or a history of rheumatic heart disease.
* Severe peripheral arterial disease (Fontaine Class II, III or IV).
* Serious liver dysfunction (AST or ALT ≥100 IU / l).
* Serious renal dysfunction (serum creatinine ≥ 2mg/dl).
* History of malignancy 5 years prior to study entry.
* Pregnancy.
* Compliance rate \< 70% assessed by a patient interview.
* Known hypersensitivity or contraindication to benidipine, angiotensin receptor blockers, β-blockers, and thiazide diuretics.
* Other serious illness or significant abnormalities that the investigator judges inappropriate for the study

Answer: C