OBJECTIVE To assess the characteristics and core statistical methodology specific to network meta-analyses (NMAs) in clinical research articles. STUDY DESIGN AND SETTING We searched Medline, Embase and the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews from inception until April 14, 2015 for NMAs of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) including at least four different interventions. Two reviewers independently screened potential studies, while data abstraction was performed by a single reviewer and verified by a second. RESULTS A total of 456 NMAs, which included a median (interquartile range) of 21 (13 to 40) studies and 7 (5 to 9) treatment nodes were assessed. A total of 125 NMAs (27%) were star networks; this proportion declined from 100% in 2005 to 19% in 2015 (p=0.01 by test of trend). An increasing number of NMAs discussed transitivity or inconsistency (0% in 2005, 86% in 2015, p