Commotio Cordis in Non–Sport-Related Events: A Systematic Review

Abstract

Background: Commotio cordis is an increasingly recognized cause of sudden cardiac death. Although commonly linked with athletes, many events occur in non–sport-related settings. Objectives: The goal of this study was to characterize and compare non–sport-related vs sport-related commotio cordis. Methods: PubMed and Embase were searched for all cases of commotio cordis from inception to January 5, 2022. Results: Of 334 commotio cordis cases identified, 121 (36%) occurred in non–sport-related contexts, which included assault (76%), motor vehicle accidents (7%), and daily activities (16%). Projectiles were implicated significantly less in non–sport-related events (5% vs 94%, respectively; P < 0..