The primary hypothesis of the cholesterol-lowering trial was that mortality from all causes would be lower in the subset of hypertensive patients with LDL cholesterol levels between 120 and 189 mg/dl (between 100 and 159 mg/dl for those with known coronary heart disease) who were randomized to receive pravastatin (a HMG CoA reductase inhibitor) plus the National Cholesterol Education Program Step I cholesterol-lowering diet than those randomized to receive usual care plus diet. Secondary endpoints were the combined incidence of nonfatal myocardial infarction and coronary heart disease death, major non-cardiovascular heart disease morbidity and mortality, and health-related quality of life.