Furthermore, the plasma cortisol and ACTH levels in the sleep disorder group were significantly elevated compared to those in the healthy control group (plasma cortisol: t (58) = 6.175, p < 0.0001, d = 1.553; see Figure 2D; plasma ACTH: t (58) = 4.093, p = 0.0001, d = 1.020; see Figure 2E). Here, POMC is linked to sleep disorder.