[The effect of environmental factors in inflammatory bowel disease].

In an attempt to elicit risk factors in inflammatory bowel disease in Spain, we have carried out a case-control study in which we conducted personal interviews asking marital status, place of residence, economic status, use of tobacco and contraceptives, and the method of lactation in infancy. IBD was more common in patients with a low economic level; UC was predominantly found in rural population. No differences were found in the remaining categories. Our results differ from those reported from North and Central Europe.