Athlete and injury characteristics of commotio cordis incidents in the USA from academic year 1982–1983 through 2022–2023 overall and stratified by fatality versus non-fatality (n=64)
| Variable | Total (n=64) | Fatalities* (n=34) | Non-fatalities* (n=28) | |||
| N | % | N | % | N | % | |
| Sport played at time of injury | ||||||
| Baseball | 20 | 31.3 | 8 | 23.5 | 12 | 42.9 |
| Lacrosse | 17 | 26.6 | 7 | 20.6 | 9 | 32.1 |
| Football | 13 | 20.3 | 11 | 32.4 | 2 | 7.1 |
| Other† | 14 | 21.9 | 8 | 23.5 | 5 | 17.9 |
| Athlete sex | ||||||
| Female | 4 | 6.3 | 1 | 2.9 | 2 | 7.1 |
| Male | 60 | 93.8 | 33 | 97.1 | 26 | 92.9 |
| Athlete age | ||||||
| 11–15 years | 17 | 26.6 | 11 | 32.4 | 5 | 17.9 |
| 16–18 years | 26 | 40.6 | 15 | 44.1 | 11 | 39.3 |
| 19–21 years | 5 | 7.8 | 4 | 11.8 | 1 | 3.6 |
| 22+ | 4 | 6.3 | 2 | 5.9 | 2 | 7.1 |
| Unknown | 12 | 18.8 | 2 | 5.9 | 9 | 32.2 |
| Sport level | ||||||
| High school | 34 | 53.1 | 17 | 50.0 | 16 | 57.1 |
| Youth league (age 11–17 years) | 12 | 18.8 | 5 | 14.7 | 6 | 21.4 |
| Collegiate | 8 | 12.5 | 6 | 17.7 | 2 | 7.4 |
| Semiprofessional | 3 | 4.7 | 2 | 5.9 | 1 | 3.6 |
| Recreational league | 2 | 3.1 | 2 | 5.9 | 0 | 0.0 |
| Middle school | 1 | 1.6 | 1 | 2.9 | 0 | 0.0 |
| Professional | 2 | 3.1 | 0 | 0.0 | 2 | 7.1 |
| Other | 2 | 3.1 | 1 | 2.9 | 1 | 3.6 |
| Injury mechanism | ||||||
| Contact with apparatus or object | 39 | 60.9 | 16 | 47.1 | 22 | 78.6 |
| Contact with another player | 20 | 31.3 | 14 | 41.2 | 5 | 17.9 |
| Contact with ground/surface | 2 | 3.1 | 1 | 2.9 | 1 | 3.6 |
| Other/unknown | 3 | 4.7 | 3 | 8.8 | 0 | 0.0 |
| Event type | ||||||
| Competition/game | 44 | 68.8 | 24 | 70.6 | 19 | 67.9 |
| Practice | 16 | 25.0 | 9 | 26.5 | 7 | 25.0 |
| Other/unknown | 4 | 6.3 | 1 | 2.9 | 2 | 7.1 |
| Injury academic year | ||||||
| 1982–1986 | 4 | 6.3 | 4 | 11.8 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 1987–1991 | 2 | 3.1 | 2 | 5.9 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 1992–1996 | 5 | 7.8 | 4 | 11.8 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 1997–2001 | 10 | 15.6 | 8 | 23.5 | 2 | 7.1 |
| 2002–2006 | 7 | 10.9 | 5 | 14.7 | 2 | 7.1 |
| 2007–2011 | 15 | 23.4 | 7 | 20.6 | 7 | 25.0 |
| 2012–2016 | 11 | 17.2 | 4 | 11.8 | 7 | 25.0 |
| 2017–2022 | 10 | 15.6 | 0 | 0.0 | 10 | 35.7 |
| Injury outcome | ||||||
| Fatality/sudden death | 34 | 53.1 | – | – | – | – |
| Survival with temporary disability | 27 | 42.2 | – | – | – | – |
| Unknown | 2 | 3.1 | – | – | – | – |
| Survival with permanent disability | 1 | 1.6 | – | – | – | – |
*Missing injury outcome data for two incidents.
†Other sports include cheerleading, cross-country, ice hockey, rodeo, soccer, softball, track and field.