Male and female Caucasians aged ≥ 40 years and <80 years with moderate to severe hypertension, defined by a systolic blood pressure (SBP) ≥ 160 and ≤ 200 or diastolic blood pressure (DBP) ≥ 100 and ≤ 115 mmHg for untreated patients, SBP ≥ 140 or DBP ≥ 90 mmHg for insufficiently pre-treated patients and SBP ≥ 130 mmHg or DBP ≥ 80 mmHg for insufficiently pretreated diabetics chronic kidney disease will be eligible for participation. In addition,three additional risk factors should be present.