Emergency department visits for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among the population of Hamilton, Ontario, from December 1, 2006, to April 30, 2007. Absolute number of emergency department visits for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease initiated by residents of Hamilton during the first 17 weeks of the study period (data for April 2007 not available). Week 5 represents December 29, 2006, to January 4, 2007