After adjustment for age, sex, BMI, smoking or alcohol consumption status, history of CAD or diabetes mellitus, Cr, TC, TG, LDL-C, HDL-C, HbA1c, Hcy, ACTH, cortisol, SBP, DBP, duration of hypertension, and use of statins or antiplatelet agents, patients who were in Q3 of PAC (OR 1.59, 95% CI 1.15, 2.19), Q3 of PRA (OR 2.50, 95% CI 1.81, 3.44), and Q3 of ARR (OR 2.90, 95% CI 2.10, 4.01) had a significantly higher risk of WMLs than those in Q1 of PAC, Q1 of PRA, and Q1 of ARR (Table 2). Here, POMC is linked to hypertensive disorder.