Further subgroup analysis showed that the cortisol level at admission was positively correlated with the ACTH level at admission (DKA without infection group, standardized β=0.286, P=0.003; DKA with infection group, standardization β=0.337, P=0.002) and independently negatively correlated with the bicarbonate level (DKA without infection group, standardized β=-0.367, P<0.001; DKA with infection group, standardization β=-0.489, P<0.001). Here, POMC is linked to infection.