Which is the Better Predictor of Coronary Heart Disease – Cholesterol or Fitness Level?

Billions of dollars are spent on cholesterol medication every year, but what if exercise would be more beneficial in reducing the risk of developing coronary heart disease (CHD)? Dr. Steve Farrell at the Cooper Institute in Dallas decided to investigate.
Knowing that both reducing LDL cholesterol and exercise together are important in reducing CHD risk, the big question is one more important than the other? Over 40,000 apparently healthy men were followed for 17 years. During that time, 557 participants died during that time frame. With further investigation, it was also found that low cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) was the greatest risk factor for death from CVD. In fact, among all the men with optimal levels of LDL, low fit men were nearly 3 times more likely to die.
As is often stated, "If the benefits of regular physical activity could be put into a pill, it would be the most widely prescribed and most beneficial of all medications."
Farrell, Steve, PhD., "Active Voice: Does Cardiorespiratory Fitness level Trump LDL-Cholesterol Level for Predicting CHD Mortality?" ACSM Sports Medicine Bulletin. Oct. 16, 2012.