The main purpose of this prospective, multicentre, french observational study is to analyse the evolution of pulse pressure (PP) and to identify its prognostic factors in hypertensive patients three months after initiation of a new hypertensive therapy. The PP is defined as the difference between systolic blood pressure (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP).

Inclusion Criteria:

• Patients with essential arterial hypertension needing a new antihypertensive therapy
• A patient was included by the physician only if he/she had agreed after being informed about the study

Exclusion Criteria:

Patients with essential hypertenstion treated by private or hospital cardiologists