Relation of Isolated Low High-Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol to Mortality and Cardiorespiratory Fitness (from the Henry Ford Exercise Testing Project [FIT Project]).

Isolated low high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) is associated with lower fitness and increased mortality. Whether the association between isolated low HDL-C and mortality differs by fitness is uncertain. Patients in the Henry Ford ExercIse Testing Project (FIT Project) completed a physician-referred treadmill stress test and those prescribed lipid-lowering medications or with known cardiovascular disease were excluded.