A total of 697 patients were randomized in a 2:1 ratio to either irbesartan/ hydrochlorothiazide 150 mg/ 12.5 mg or to irbesartan 150 mg and systematically force- titrated (before assessing the response to the lower dose) after one week to irbesartan/ hydrochlorothiazide 300 mg/ 25 mg or irbesartan 300 mg, respectively.