The importance of low serum levels of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) as a cardiovascular risk factor.

In order to discuss and establish a joint position on the treatment of low serum levels of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), a group of experts involved in the care of people with dyslipidaemia and at risk of cardiovascular disease met in Miami, Florida, U.S., on 5th and 6th March 2005. The experts came from the Latin American countries Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Guatemala, Mexico and Venezuela and had at least five years of experience in the care of patients with dyslipidaemia and low HDL-C. The main objective of the meeting was to discuss and propose a treatment for low serum HDL-C levels as a cardiovascular risk factor in patients and to create a group of useful recommendations in this regard, applicable to the daily clinical practice of physicians dealing with patients with dyslipidaemia and cardiovascular disease. This document describes the methodology developed to obtain these recommendations and presents the results of this academic meeting.