New-onset lesional and nonlesional epilepsy in the US population: Patient characteristics and patterns of antiepileptic drug use.

•Lesional, nonlesional epilepsy characteristics and treatment patterns were compared.•This was a retrospective cohort study using a nationally drawn healthcare database.•Lesional and nonlesional epilepsy patients have several important differences.•The lesional epilepsy group was much less likely to remain untreated at 1 year.•Nonlesional epilepsy patients were more likely to remain on the same AED at 1 year.