This led to the development of the Chronic Care Model, which integrates multiple components to improve the management of patients with chronic illnesses. [...] While the basic mortality refl ects the fi nal burden of chronic disease, the CCHS data are useful in understanding the breadth of the problem. [...] The use of the health-care system is closely associated with the presence of chronic diseases. [...] A meta-analysis of successful and non-successful programs led to the development of the Chronic Care Model. [...] But if it combines the knowledge, energies and interests of individual people with the expertise and understanding of health care professionals and the resources and power of health care systems, it will be an unbeatable combination.