Diuretics In the Management of Essential Hypertension (DIME) Study

Inclusion Criteria: * Aged 30 to 79 years * With blood pressure being \>150/\>90 if they are not on any antihypertensive treatment * With blood pressure being \>140/\>90 if they are already on antihypertensive drugs * No history of type 2 diabetes * No history of gout Exclusion Criteria: * With supine blood pressure being \>200/\>120 * Patients already on antihypertensive treatment if duration of treatment and drugs used are not identified * Patients already on thiazide diuretics * With type 2 diabetes * With gout or hyperuricaemia (\>8.0 mg/dl) * With hypokalemia（\<3.5mmol/L） * With erectile dysfunction * With renal dysfunction (s-creatinine \> 2.0 mg/dL) * With history of serious adverse reaction to thiazide diuretics * With history of stroke or myocardial infarction within 6 months * With history of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) or coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) within 6 months or in whom these interventions are planned * With heart failure or left ventricular dysfunction (ejection fraction\<40%) * Patients who should be on thiazide diuretics * With history of malignant tumor within 5 years * Pregnant, possibility of pregnancy, or during breast feeding * Patients who are deemed not eligible for this study for any reason