[Investigation of various risk factors associated with colorectal cancer by studying cases and controls]

A retrospective study was made of cases of colorectal cancer and controls using 571 cases from various hospitals in Valencia (Spain) and 1,497 controls from the general population with similar sex, age and residence. The relative risks (RR) and levels of statistical significance of various "risk factors" presumably linked to this cancer were calculated. It was associated with: smoking, the Quetelet index (which relates weight and height), chronic constipation and, possibly, sedentary life style, previous cholecystectomy and biliary lithiasis. No association was observed with: civil status, weight, coffee and alcohol intake, or professional status.