Does liuzijue qigong affect anxiety in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, even during the COVID-19 outbreak? A randomized, controlled trial

Background: Anxiety is a common comorbidity associated with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), but no well-recognized method can provide effective relief. Liuzijue Qigong (LQG) is a traditional Chinese fitness method, based on breath pronunciation. This study aimed to examine the efficacy of LQG to relieve anxiety in COPD patients and to explore the factors that influence anxiety, including whether LQG is effective during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak.