Background: the exact prevalence of target organ damages in Korean hypertensives are unknown.
Study Objective: to investigate the prevalence of target organ damages in Korean patients with incident hypertension.
Study Design: prospective, multi-center and observational study
Study Populaton: approximately 5000 consecutive patients with incident hypertension, who visited outpatients clinics and agreed to participate in the registry
Primary outcome
* Subclinical organ damages
1. left ventricular hypertrophy on electrocardiogram or echocardiography
2. increased intima media thickness of carotid artery (\> 0.9 mm) or plaque
3. increased pulse wave velocity (\> 12 m/s)
4. low estimated glomerular filtration rate (\< 60 ml/min/1.73 m2) or creatinine clearance (\<60 ml/min)
* Established CV or renal disease
1. cerebrovascular disease: ischemic stroke; cerebral stroke; transient ischemic attack
2. Heart disease: myocardial infarction; angina; coronary revascularization; heart failure
3. Renal disease: diabetic retinopathy; serum creatinine M \> 133, W \> 124 mmol/L; proteinuria \> 300 mg/24 hr
4. Peripheral artery disease
5. Advanced retinopathy: hemorrhage or exudates, papilledema
