Essential hypertension affects 15-25% of adults in industrial nations and is associated with an increased risk of coronary heart disease and cerebrovascular disease - the first and third leading causes of death in the US. Hypertension is estimated to be directly responsible for half of these deaths, and is therefore a major public health issue. The presentations in this supplement confirm that the angiotensin II receptor blocker valsartan is a clinically effective agent for the treatment of both hypertension and left ventricular hypertrophy, and also has great promise in other disease areas.
